LAND REFORM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 128, 15 March 1950, Page 3

LAND REFORM

ITALIAN PLANS T' SOCIAL REVOLUTION ) (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter-Gopy right). (Rec. 10.20) ROME, March 14. The Prime Minister, Signor De Gasperi, to-day announced plans for a social 1 revolution in Italy - widespread distribution of land, which observers describe as the v most sweeping social change ever made in Italy without violence. While thousands of peasants in Southern Italy squatted grimly _ on vast areas of land they have seized in the last few weeks, the Prime Minister disclosed that Cabinet had agreed to cut up big estates throughout Italy and distribute part of them to unemployed farmers. It is estimated that the reform plan, which will be submitted to Parliament within a few days, will lop 3,750,000 acres off big estates and distribute them among 250,000 peasant families. The elan is regarded as an effort to create a major bulwark against Communism.

Signor De Gasperi said that land redistribution would be accompanied by a 10-year programme to . spend £500,000,000 sterling on .land development. Under the programme povertystricken areas in, Southern Italy, Sicily and Sardinia would be enriched as never before. Huge public works would irrigate and drain land at present scarcely cultivated, and whole populations would be moved to farmlands now barren. Signor De Gasperi added that under the plan landowners would lose all land above a minimum, which varied in different parts of the country from 75 to 750 acres. Compensation would be paid—a quarter in cash and threequarters in'State bonds, redeemable in 25 years.