Rotary Clubs in Conference

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 44, 21 February 1945, Page 5

Rotary Clubs in Conference

BENEFICIAL INFLUENCE ON THE COMMUNITY (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 20. The twentieth annual conference of the New Zealand Rotary Clubs opened in the University College this morning. Approximately 240 delegates from other parts of the Dominion and local members attended. In welcoming the visitors the Mayor (Mr. Allum) said that there w'as no doubt that iu the 24 years since the first Rotary Club was established in Now Zealand the movement to assisted many worthy objects and had exercised a beneficial influence on the community. Tho responsibility of Rotarians was particularly great at the present time when thoughtful people were endeavouring to prepare for peace. All leaders to-day carried two great responsibilities—to adopt ideals and make every endeavour to live up to them. Rotarians had adopted a high ideal and ho was confident they would live up to it. Mr. W. Calder Mackay, president of the Auckland Rotary Club, said the large attendance indicated the interest Rotarians were taking in present and postwar problems. The movement, he said, was growing even in countries knowing the blight of war. Mr. Thomas, Governor of the New Zealand Rotary District, referred to tho Dominion’s participation in the Allied war effort. Rotarians were honoured by the antagonism of such avow'ed enemies of freedom as Hitler. Over 4SO clubs had been lost through enemy action and suppression, but the growth of the movement had been such that there were now more clubs than at tho outbreak of the war. In New Zealand the number of clubs had increased from 25 in 1939 to 43, the number of members increasing from 1460 to 2127. New Zealand was now known as tho most rotaryised country in the world. Mr. J. hi. A. Ilott, official representative of Rotary International, also addressed the conference.