INFLUENCE OF ROTARY

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 33

INFLUENCE OF ROTARY

THK HONOLULU CONFERENCE. HONOLULU, May 25. The programme is announced for the first day of the Rotary Conference which begins on Tuesday. Mr Horace Johnston, president of the Honolulu Rotary Club, will greet the visitors and the Governor, Mi Farrington, will deliver an addiess of welcome to which past director Charles Rhodes, of Auckland, and Mr Everitt Hill, of Oklahoma City, will respond Mr Harold Cohen of Melbourne, will speak on “Rotary; Philosophical, and Practical”; Mr Peter Barr (Dunedin) on the extension of Rotary ; and Mr APGludice (Bendigo) on the committees of Rotary. One hundred and fifty visiting Rotarians are now here. Mr H. Duncan Hall, of Sydney University, speaking at the Pan-Pacific Chib’s luncheon said: “The people of Australia are coming P- the point where they realise the necessity of contact in the affairs of the Pacific, and the building up of good relations with other nations.” May 26. Ihe speakers at the Rotary Convention declared that Rotary civic work was steadily broadening throughout the Pacific area, and embracing a wide field of usefulness. Mr C. W. Hyde (Sydney) spoke on Rotary education, Mr H. Calder Ramil' ton (New Zealand) on busines methods and Mr A. T. Levy (Ballarat) and Mr James Fletcher (Dunedin) described Rotary activities in Australia and New Zealand. Mr Harold Cohen (Melbourne) speaking at the luncheon said : “So long as Americans and Australians practice honesty, commonsonse and fair play in their business relations I defy anybody to start trouble between those countries. Mr Charles Rhodes (Auckland) discussed Rotary organisation and Mr Peter Barr (Dunedin) the extension of Rotary. PROBLEMS OF THE PACIFIC. HONOLULU May 25. The Pacific Ocean as a great international factor in friendliness was emphasised at to-day’s session of the Rotary conference. Governor Farrington, in welcoming the visitors from all the Pacific lands, said: “We sense a new spirit, a new era in the Pacific,—we might call it a Rotary era.” Mr Fred Birks, Sydney, responded briefly, pointing to Hawaii as an example of a community which demonstrated international friendship The Australian delegation rose and sang “Australia Fair.’* Mr Harold Cohen (Melbourne) as spokesman, presented a beautiful Australian flag to the local Rotary club. Mr Charles Rhodes (Auckland) outlined Rotary’s growth through careful organisation and definite service. TRADE RELATIONSHIPS. NEW YORK, May 26. Sir James Elder, the retiring Australian Trade Commissioner, speaking at a farewell luncheon tendered him by the English Union said: “The Americans are all friends of Australia. The name Australia is an ‘open sesame’ to all hearts. Australia’s aim is to build higher and still higher her national structure on a broader and still stronger basis of nationhood. I am convinced that the association and intercourse of our two nations in the Pacific will continue to progress and that our business relationships will improve and that the future will see still greater mutual benefit and goodwill. I have great hopes for a League of Friendship of America and the British Empire. I leave America richer, far richer, than when I came—richer in my love of her great people.’*

A BROTHERHOOD OF PEACE. HONOLULU, May 28. ) The Pacific International Rotary Conference closed at 3 o’clock to-day. The attitude of the delegates is reflected in an address by Mr Cnarles Rhodes, pastdirector of the Rotary International, who said:— “The conference has brought together the people of three countries m a friendly meeting where friendships have been made and will never be broken. The Australians. New Zealanders and Americans were blood-brothers before this, but from nowon they will be brothers in a great effort to maintain world peace.” PARTING SCENES. HONOLULU, May 28. The United States to day literally shook hands with Australia and New Zealand at the closing session of the Pacific Rotar Conference, when dramatic scenes were enacted. In an expression of international friendship, just before the close, Mr Fred Birks (Sydney) called Mr Ohas. Rhodes (Auckland) and Mr Horace John* son (Honolulu), the president, together, and Mr Rhodes addressed the pthering on the lines already cabled. 9he confc nee then adjourned, after singing- tha American and British National Anthems, observers remarking that the Australians sang “America" better than the Americans did. The delegates afterwards scattered to visit the various islands of the Hawaiian Group. The Australians were surprised to learn that Hawaii now has wallabies, jo suivjunoui Oahu’lsland and began breeding.