ROTARY PRESIDENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 133, 7 May 1932, Page 7

ROTARY PRESIDENT

PALMERSTON NORTH VISIT. LARGE FUNCTION HELD. International President of tlie Rotary movement throughout the world, Mr S. "W. Pascall, the noted British manufacturer, accompanied by his wife and daughter (Miss Joan Pascall) arrived in Palmerston North at noon to-day from Napier in the course of a tour of the Dominion. Leading Rotarians from this centre met the visitors at Ashhurst and escorted them to the city, • where a largely attended luncheon was held in the Kosco tea-rooms. The gathering was the most representative assembly of Rotarians ever held in the Wellington province, there being many visitors present from the New Plymouth, Wanfanui, Hawera, Dannevirke and Lanawatu clubs. There were over 200 in attendance at the luncheon. Mr W. G. Black (president of the Palmerston North Rotary Club) presided, and with him was associated the Mayor (Mr Mansford). Mrs and Miss Pascall were the guests at lunch of the wives of the president and directors of the Palmerston North Rotary Club. MR PASCALL’S OFFICE.

Rotarian Pascall is the world president of Rotary and there are 3486 clubs and 155,000 Rotarians under his jurisdiction. He is the first Englishman elected to this high office, having been appointed at the Vienna Convention in June, 1931. He joined the Rotary Club of London in September, 1919. Rotarian Pascall was Rotary s representative to the World Economic Conference in Geneva in 1927, where ho contributed a study and report on improper and dishonest business practices. He served on the business methods committee of Rotary in the British Isles for several years, and then on the business methods committee of Rotary International. He was chosen vice-president of Rotary in the British Isles for 1925-26 and was elected president in 1926-27. For the next two years he was vice-chairman of the aims and objects committee of Rotary International, and for the year 1929-30 he served as a member of the board of directors of Rotary' International, representing the Rotarians in the British Isles. He was chairman of the convention committee in charge of the Vienna convention, the first one held in the heart of Europe. He was one of the original members of the European advisory committee of Rotary, on which he served for several years. He was the first chairman of the European economic advisory committee. Rotarian Pascall was born at New Malden Surrey, and educated at the Whitgift School, Croydon, and at Bishop’s Stortford, matriculating from the latter. He is a Justice of the Peace for the County of London, and holds the rank of Major. He was for seven years president of the Manufacturing Confectioners’ Alliance, and was largely instrumental in the formation of the British Association of Research for the sugar confectionery, chocolate and jam trades. He was chairman of the industrial section of the Food Manufacturers’ Federation, representing this body on the executive of the British National Council of the International Chamber of Commerce. He is a vice-president of the Federation of British Industries and chairman of the food group of that organisation, on which he represents the Manufacturing Confectioners’ Allu ance. He is a • member of the Trade Board and its administrative committee, and was chairman of the trade section of the British Empire Exhibition. , .

Rotarian Pascall was first chairman of the Association of Whitley Councils, and is chairman of the Trade Board’s (Employers’) Consultative Council. He was among the representatives of the Federation of British Industries Grand Council in joint meetings with the Trades Union Council and the National Organisation of Employers’ federation. He pioneered the movement towards a Christian Order in industry and commerce, and is now honorary treasurer of the Christian Social Council, an inter-denominational body which is carrying on the work of the Christian Conference on Politics, economics and citizenship. AN EMPIRE TOUR. Mr Pascall is the first non-North American to be elected president of the Rotary International. His predecessors have been either of the United States or of Canada. Being an Englishman, he believed it was fitting that he should first visit the clubs in the British Empire. The proposal for this tour was received with the greatest cordiality by his American colleagues. He is conforming with a promise given to the founder of Rotary that lie would plant a tree in every country which he visited. “Although the Rotary movement started in Chicago 27 years ago, as a friendly association of business and professional men, meeting more or less for social purposes, it has gradually spread into 70 different countries and has developed a policy which recognises that mutual service, based on understanding and goodwill, is a means of solving most of the difficulties of the troubled people of the world” (declared Mr Pascall on his arrival in New Zealand). “It is through fellowship and the association of people together in friendly intercourse that one is enabled to put this principle into practice.” Fellowhip leads to team work, and without team work little can be accomplished. The Rotary movement does not enter into political or religious fields, but it does isspire its members to display a public spirit and engage themselves is an active service for the common good of all. Rotarians believe that most of us can achieve good in the world more by acting honourably and by rendering the highest qualities of service in business and professional dealings than bv setting up a separate or additional philanthropic and charitable agencies. Following upon to-day s luncheon, Mr and Mrs and Miss Pascall departed for Wellington by car, and they will be received there by His Excellency the Governor-Generaf (Lord Bledisloe). They are due in Christchurch on Sunday and after visiting centres in the South Island will return to Wellington on May 14, departing three days ffi.te,r by the Maunganui for the United States.