Group visiting S.I.

Press, 18 February 1983, Page 6

Group visiting S.I.

A group of five young Indian men arrived at Christchurch yesterday for a month’s visit to the north of the South Island under a Rotary International group study exchange. Accompanying the exchange group is. their leader, Mr H. K. Sharaff, who is a Rotarian. The men are aged between 25 and 35, all professional men who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields. They are from cities in northern India.

Mr Sharaff and group members are all Hindus and all but two .are vegetarians. They will be officially welcomed to the city today by the Mayor of Christchurch. Sir Harnish Hay. then travel to Blenheim for a Rotary conference and the start of a month-long study tour which will cover Marlborough, Nelson, the West Coast, and Canterbury. They will stay with the families of rotarians in each town and visit factories, farms, a hospital, orchards, and a meat works, as well as

meeting professional people of their own vocations. The aim of the exchange trips is to promote international good will and foster better understanding of other countries. A group of young New Zealanders will be selected this year to visit India in February next year. The air fares are paid by Rotary International’s headquarters in the United States, while domestic arrangements are the responsibility of the host Rotary district.