ROTARY SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23599, 7 March 1940, Page 11

ROTARY SERVICE

DISTRICT CONFERENCE OPENING ADDRESSES 26 CLUBS WITH 1462 MEMBERS ft [by TELKGKAPH —OWN COlt UKS I'ONOKNT. ] PALM ERSTON NORTH, Wednesday Attended l>v over 200 delegates Irnin ;i]l pnrts of 1110 Dominion and one from Fiji, the 18th district conference of New Zealand Notary Cluhs was opened at Massey College to-day and will continue until Friday. The district governor, Mr. David Kwen, of Wellington, presided. The official representative of the Rotary International is Sir Robert Garran, of Canberra.

"Rotary in New Zealand is now 19 years of age, and there are 26 clubs with a membership of 1462," said Mr. Kwen. "Several other towns are being surveyed and it is hoped to establish clubs in one or two of them in the near future. Our clubs are energetic, keen and actuated throughout by a real Rotary sense of fellowship and service. Some arc doing yeomen service in fostering good feeling and understanding between town and country. Many members are taking part in local body work. There has also been excellent work carried out in connection with the Crippled Children Society, health camps and work promoting health among Maoris. I feel assured that our clubs are awake to the necessity for greater service now and in future months and years."

Oriental Studies The belief that Australia and New Zealand should have a common task in getting a fuller understanding of the peoples of the Orient was expressed by Sir Robert Garran, when addressing the conference. For some time past, he said, he had been advocating in Australia the institution of a college of Oriental studies and the idea bad the support of many politicians and educationists in the Commonwealth. He thought New Zealand could well share in the project.

Sir Robert also expressed the view that New Zealand and Australia themselves made insufficient contacts. They shared the great traditions of Anzac and must share also formidable tasks which lay ahead in the field of international co-operation. Chief Hope for World

"I personally believe that no new gospel is g<jiiiji; t« save the world," said Sir Harry Batter hue, High Commissioner for the United Kingdom. "Our chief hope for a return to sanity and normal living lies in the old simple things, such as duty to one's neighhour and duty to one's God, which, after all, are much the same thing." Sir Harry emphasised that the ideals of Rotary were entirely in keeping with all constructive thought for a more peaceful world, and said he regarded it as a fact of great significance that Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia were practically the only countries in the world where Rotary was not allowed to exist.