“SERVICE BEFORE SELF”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21640, 10 May 1932, Page 7

“SERVICE BEFORE SELF”

MEETING OF ROTARIANS WELCOME TO MR SYDNEY PASCALL. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. Mr Sydney W. Pascal], president of Rotarv International, was welcomed by members of the Christchurch Rotary Club at a luncheon to-day. Mr A. M. Burns, president of the Christchurch Club, was in, the chair. The Mayor (Mr D. U. Sullivan), welcoming Mr Pascall, said he had always received the greatest possible courtesy and assistance from Rofcary, and this, added to the magnificent work of the organisation, showed him that the high ideals were being upheld. To millions of people in the world Rotary meant a live, beneficent and truly humanitarian body. If in other parts of the world similar work was being done it must be a very great factor for international peace. Mr Pascal! said the atmosphere in the Christchurch Rotary Club was the true atmosphere, proving that members Avere not masquerading under a name. He hoped the day was far distant ivhen the idea of public service would cease to exist. In the afternoon Mr Pascall planted .a Tree of Friendship, his tAventy-fifth, in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Mr Pascall was the guest at a reception attended by Rotarians and their ladies at the United Service Hotel to-night. Mr Pascall acknoAvledged the welcome and commended the good community service ot the Christchurch Rotary Club. Bribery in trade, he said, was inimical to all that Rotary stood for, and the movement sec its face strongly against it as it struck at the very root of good commercial practice. Secret commissions were destructive of business friendship and were to be avoided at, all cost. “ Before Ave tackle the problem of a return to. world prosperity we Avant more light upon it,” said Mr Pascall. “We must see that industrial and commercial interests are welded together. We in Rotary are representative ot various trades and professions, and yet tve seem to have neglected the study of economics. An understanding of economics might have minimised the disasters of this financial crisis. We are looking to the Ottaiva Conference to bring forth something of A’alue. _ I hope a better economic condition will be in the British Empire, folloAved by an nnprovement in the Avhole world. Trade is not Avar, and Ave err Avhen we use warlike terms in trade. Selfishness means class hatred and international strife. No great nation can afford to be selfish. Let the international policy be one of service on a basis Avhich is ethically right. In urging that on the Avorld Ave avall bo justifying our motto of ‘ Service Before Self.’”