THE ROTARY MOVEMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18625, 2 May 1932, Page 8

THE ROTARY MOVEMENT.

SPIRIT UNDERLYING IT. SOLVING WORLD’S PROBLEMS, (By Telegraph.—Press »ssociatlon.) AUCKLAND, Monday. The president of the Rotary International, Mr Sydney W. Pascall, who arrived by the R.M.S. Aorangi from Sydney to-day, in an interview, said that the movement had spread to 70 countries and had developed a policy which recognised that mutual service, based on understanding and goodwill, was the means of solving most of the difficulties of the world. It was in the international field that Rotary had an outstanding opportunity at present: Rotarians of all nationalities were able to meet on a common ground and learn to respect their opponents’ convictions. When that atmosphere was achieved it was easier to handle the most difficult controversial problems. Rotary did not take any part in the solution of these problems, but it contributed to the creation of an atmosphere in which solution became easy. Mr Pascall said the problem facing the world to-day, to which he had directed the attention of all Rotarians, was armament reduction. The nations were pledged to reduction, but Rotary aimed at the spirit underlying the attempt, the rejection of the idea that a foreigner was necessarily an antagonist, and that a stranger was necessarily an opponent.