TO FIGHT DEPRESSION

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 28 February 1933, Page 5

TO FIGHT DEPRESSION

ROTARY'S UNIQUE POSITION. DISTRICT GOVERNOR’S BELIEF. PALMERSTON N., Feb. 27. The opinion that the Rotary movement was the only organisation in the business world qualified to deal with the moral side of the present economic depression, and, as such, could giv< the greatest assistance in the solution of this problem, was expressed by the Distinct iUovetrnor, Mir. H. ,V alder, Hamilton, when speaking at the annual conference of New Zealand Rocary Clubs to-day. Rotary, in common with other organisations, said Mr. Vafiler, could not be expected to escape the effects of the world-wide depression which was tending to overwhelm civilisation. The question now arose: What influence eoulcl .Rotary bring to bear on the community in order to .solve the great problem of the depression ? He believed that the Rotary movement had those qualities which would be oi material benefit in the. solution of this problem. Rotary was the only orgaemsation built up by business men that was deal in" with the moral side of the question, said Mr. Vakler. All. the leaders of political thought, it would appear, had concentrated their efforts on the material, side of the question. The Rotary movement’s objectives dia not deal with material things but with moral qualities and with philosophical ideals and qualties. He could not imagine any organisation more qualified to deal with the moral side of ethics than Rotary. . Mr. Vafiler said be had no hesitation in suggesting that the world was suiferin"’ for the breaking of some great natural law. It was .saicl that the depression was a man-made crisis, but he ventiitfed ix> say that little had *>ecu done on the moral .side to counteract it. Rotary was the only body and organisation in the business world which had the necessary machinery .or dealing with the moral .side of toe question. , ~ , ~ ~ “Never before in the history of the Rotary movement has there been the same opportunity for service for Rotarv as there are to-day.’ said Mr. Vaidcr. “The future of Riotary is m vour bands and in mine. M hat be-ter organisation can be found to meet Die problems with. which we are faced today tlia.n the Rotary movement. “Dominion” Service.