Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1940. THE ROTARY MOVEMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 85, 8 March 1940, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1940. THE ROTARY MOVEMENT.

The Rotary movement holds an honoured place in the communities in this country where it is established. There is very good reason for this, for in the thirtyfive years since it was founded in Chicago by Mr Paul Harris, whose visit to this country five years ago is well remembered by Rotarians, it has become a worldwide force of considerable influence. Sir Harry Batterbee gave point to this in his admirable address at the opening of this week’s conference in Palmerston North, when lie stressed the significant fact that practically the only two countries in the world where Rotary is not allowed to exist are Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. And these are the two countries that have entered into an unholy alliance not to force war one against the other, yet side by side, acting the part of aggressors, are striving to enlarge their dominion. With something of the teaching of Rotary in Germany the world must have been spared the agony of to-day. How well the founders of llotary built was not apparent to them in those days shortly after the' beginning of this century. The product is the witness of the excellent foundations. The birth of the movement is more than interesting. A professional man of intimate acquaintance with many avenues of interest and socially sensitive in a marked degree, Mr Harris realised keenly the need for helpful comradeship. To him it was deplorable that the contacts of professional and business men were not strengthened by sociability, and were often meetings of unfriendly competition, suspicion, coldly impersonal shrewdness, with each individual seeking to gain a pecuniary advantage. A young lawyer friend in Mr Harris’s own profession had established cordial relations with business men in his own neighbourhood in 1900, and Mr Harris was so impressed that five years later with three friends engaged in insurance, mining, and printing, he formed the Chicago club. His conception was a group of business men banded together socially; afterwards came the thought of the special advantage of each member of the group exclusively representing his own particular trade or profession. Mr Harris has placed on record that mutual service in business was frankly intended; members were to meet as business men, employ social contacts to promote business, and use these contacts to cement friendship. Rotary has made wonderful progress since its infancy when the idea of ‘caring for the welfare of “the other fellow” was fostered, from whence comes its motto, “Service before Self.” The present conference was the third to be held in Palmerston North, and it is a tribute to the city’s remarkable geographical situation that it was again chosen for this

purpose. What Rotary has done even since the first gathering was held here must be realised by every citizen beyond its membership. It has practical ideals which the members are faithfully putting into effect, and whenever a cause arises which it can help it is ever' ready to do so. In the wider field Rotary, as Sir Harry Batterbee so clearly explained, stands for the advancement of international understanding and goodwill and world peace through goodwill and goodfellowship. It is for these principles indeed that the Allies are fighting a Power that has denied them to other and weaker nations. Tlie human relationships of which Sir Harry Batterbee spoke, will surely do most to bring about international goodwill. The world of to-day is (lively in need of high minded principles such as govern the Rotary movement.