ROTARY MOVEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 37

ROTARY MOVEMENT.

THE PAPAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

DEPLORED IN THE DOMINION. CHRISTCHURCH, February 27. Reference to the Papal ukase against Rotary was made to-day at the Rotary Conference by the district governor, Sir Alexander Roberts, who expressed the hope that the question would not be allowed to interfere with the harmony of the movement in New Zealand. “ I think it is only right that I should refer to the Papal announcement you have seen published,” said Sir Alexander. “It comes as a great surprise to this district. As y’ou know in Rotary we have neither creed nor politics in the clubs of New Zealand. We have many religions represented, and all work together towards a common end. It would be a very’ great disaster if anything should happen to break up the harmony that exists. I maysay that in my own club in Wellington I do not know the religion of one-quarter of the members, now do I know their political leanings. Those two things do not exist in Rotary. I think it is a great pity that this question should ever have been raised, and I trust that yve will be able to keep it clear of the fifty-third district (New Zealand).” HELPING THE LESS FORTUNATE. CHRISTCHURCH, February 27. Representatives of every Rotary Club in New Zealand and one or two Rotarians from overseas assembled in the Alunicipal Concert Hall to-day for the opening of the seventh annual conference of Rotary’ clubs. District Governor Sir Alexander Roberts presided. The conference was opened with the invocation, after which the visitors were welcomed by Rotarian C. H. Hewlett (president of the Christchurch Rotary Club). A welcome was also extended by the Alayor (the Rev. J. K. Archer)," who said that he was glad to welcome the conference because of its size, its representative character, and because of the work it did. “ I can assure you, as Alayor of the city,” he added, “ that I look upon you without the slightest suspicion.” Governor Roberts said that he was a little disappointed with the attendance. Seeing that there yvas a membership of over 1000 in the district, he thought it should have been larger. He went on to say that it was essential that they’ should develop their fellowship on sound lines. y “Rotary,” he said, “had no idea of producing plaster saints. We do not hold ourselves up as being better than anyone else, but we aim at doing something for those who are less fortunate than ourselves.”

Rotarian Charles Frazier, the American delegate from Honolulu, also addressed the conference. He said he was an ambassador of goodyvill from Hawaii, which was the outpost of America in the Pacific, and he had come to New Zealand to learn of friendship. In the afternoon the delegates met in committees for the discussion of various problems.

Alarch I. The Rotary Conference yvas concluded to-day’. It yvas decided to hold the next conference at the Tongariro National Park during Alarch, 1930. Air C. J. Ronaldson, manager of the National Bank in Christchurch, was elected District Governor of Rotary for Neyv Zealand.