WHAT IS ROTARY?

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21912, 22 September 1934, Page 9 (Supplement)

WHAT IS ROTARY?

SCIENTISTS INVESTIGATE | " At the instance of the oldest club in llotary, a committee of social scientists from the University of Chicago reports herewith an inquiry into the history, achievements and possibilities of that club." Thus seven experts preface their book " Rotary?" It will be caviare to the general, for its scope is intentionally and inevitably exclusive. The particular club is that of Chicago, largest as well as oldest, " Old Number One " on the register of liotary, the club started by l'aul Harris and his associates in an endeavour to cultivate friendship and to make friendship cultivate mutual business. In the beginning the second part of the purpose was quite frankly followed, and the investigators have a good word for it, while welcoming the more widely altruistic idea pursued today.

The report is based 011 the replies to an anonymous questionnaire sent to the 670 members of Chicago Rotary, and it is a highly painstaking analysis of the trends in the movement. Naturally it is in close touch with American conditions; the relation of Rotary to President Roosevelt's " New Deal," for instance, is given attention. However, since the development of the Chicago experience carried Rotary out into the world, there is a considerable place in the report for the wider envisaging of the purposes and plans of Rotarians, and few anywhere will fail to find it instructive. As a study of modern social and international tendencies it has some value.

Its purely historical part is incidental and incomplete, as was to be expected; but its collation of answers to the elaborate questionnaire and its discussion of Rotary problems are painstakingly thorough and highly provocative of thought. Of some developments the report is frankly critical; of others the committee has little that is positive to say. Most striking is the analysis of the acknowledged iluty of Rotarians to think in terms of " leadership." This may be overdone; the committee is convinced it may miss the wise way, and some readers will deem the point of view too characteristically American: but good things are said and said well about this aspect. It will attract the social student wishful to skim the pages dealing with the machinery of a ftotary club.

Altogether, the survey fulfils its im T mediate purpose. It may do a service still wider. "Rotary? A Univt-rsity Group looks at the Rotary Club o£ Chicago." (University of Chicago Press.)