CHANGE THIS YEAR

Evening Star, Issue 25745, 19 March 1946, Page 7

CHANGE THIS YEAR

NEW ROTARY DISTRICT WORLD MEMBERSHIP (Special.) NAPIER, March 19. The conference of the Rotary Clubs now being held in Napier is the last at which the clubs will meet as units of the Fifty-third District. From July of this year all clubs in the territory north of and including Woodville and Palmerston North will constitute a new district—No.s2 —and clubs south of this line retain the title of the Fiftythird District. Reference to the new system was made at this morning’s session of the conference by Rotarian John M. A. Ilott, official representative of Rotary International, when replying to an address of welcome. “ Also,” he added, “ we meet at the birth of an almost entirely new world —one which is now aware of the developments of the atomic bomb. "With its fearful potentialities for good and for evil it should mean that war has been banished for ever.” MEMBERSHIP OF 256,000. Dealing with the construction of Rotary International, Rotarian Ilott revealed that in the 60-odd countries in which Rotary flourished there were approximately 5,600 clubs with a membership of over 256,000. Rotary International was entrusted with the task of developing and supervising Rotary throughout the world. The plan under which Rotary International operated was the result of careful study and scrutiny by many of the world’s best business brains, who have given continuous- thought, to the matter. Last year, a major step forward was taken by the establishment of a presidents’ council, with a membership of the 10 most, recent presidents in Rotary. A .new member was elected each year and thus both continuity and a fresh viewpoint were assured. Last year Rotary International had added 248 clubs to its total—the largest in any year since the war began. This year 193 new clubs had been added. Clubs in the countries from which they were suppressed were coming back rapidly into the fellowship. Already' contact had been made witn 68 of the suppressed clubs in Europe, while several of the clubs in the Philippines and Ear East had restarted. In addition many of the important figures at San Francisco were members of the Rotary movement. FUTURE POLICIES.

Turning to the problems and policies of future years, Rotarian Ilott stated that at the present time they were adding 20,000 new members each year. That number would be stepped up, but even on that basis they would have 100,000 new Rotarians in five years. “Let us see to it that they are made true Rotarians,” he added. “ This throws a great responsibility _ on the officers and educational committees of the various clubs. It is of vital imporance also to see that we keep Rotary young.” • In the coming years tens of thousands of members of Rotary -would be on the move and many thousands of them would visit New Zealand. London, was only 62 hours away and the United States 48 hours away. He urged the delegates to begin now to prepare for the visitors so that they could take away , with them impressions of a friendly people. “ We mobilised for war, now let us mobilise for peace,” he continued. '“•Mail started mth the stone-age, went to the bronze-age, then to the iron-, age, then to the steel-age, and is now 1 entering the . atomic-age, which holds amazing possibilities for mankind as a whole, provided the great advaiices in science and industry are used for the benefit of all and provided we can live together and work together as communities and nations in the widest sphere “ The work of world reconstruction and rehabilitation, involving the revival of trade and industry the world over, seems almost beyond human power, yet it can be done. If we will do our duty and. if we will face the future in an optimistic spirit with the desire to render service we can make a real contribution.”