ROTARY AND PROPAGANDA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19390, 27 July 1926, Page 6

ROTARY AND PROPAGANDA.

Sir,—Your correspondents on the above have, in my opinion, done good service in bringing this matter before the public in your columns. It cannot be too forcibly stressed that it is nothing short of folly to buy goods from the United States when that country practically buys nothing from us. The money for such purchases goes out of New Zealand never to return. On the other hand purchases of British goods are all repaid (and more) by British purchases of our primary products, on which we all exist. Every man or woman, therefore, who buys American goods, does New Zealand a real injury. Onlookeu.

Sir,—l have noticed quite a number of letters lately commenting on the Rotary movement. The last, by Mr. J. H. Beale, covers most of the ground and I feel sure that 90 per cent, of our population endorse the sentiments therein expressed. Our own Constitution is based on very different lines from Rotary. We claim that the son of the most humble parents can become Prime Minister of New Zealand if he has the ability. How does this compare with the Rotary Constitution, which is a self-elected body of men who, without any authority, elect themselves to represent clifferent sections of industries ? For any public position wo have to go before our fellow men and women and get their approval, and rightly so; otherwise the will of the people would not be expressed. If Rotary did seek our usual forms of administration they would then revert to what, we already had in existence, Chambers of Commerce. Wherein lies the difference, except that the Chamber is British and constitutionally elected, and Rotary is American and self elected. As for the social side, the fortnightly or weekly luncheon was already inaugurated, and although the members were not calling each other by endearing •nicknames the spirit of goodfellowship exists, and if some of the Rotarians felt that it was not sufficiently pronounced there was a field day for their oxuberance. It will be a bad day for New Zealand when the slogan "British goods are best" is abandoned. What would we do without British goods. If Britain failed to buy our goods where would we stand in New Zealand ? Will American Rotarians show us how we can pay for the motorcars we buy from them with cheese, butter, etc. ? 'At present, We get the money from Britain for the very large payments we have to make to America. A high tariff such as they impose on us would remedy this defect, would stimulate. the manufacture of British motor-cars, or, as is done in Australia, cause the manufacture of car bodies in our own countrv. Davjd Meikle. Banlt Street, Whangaroi.