BUSY ITALY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 305, 26 December 1929, Page 8

BUSY ITALY.

NEW ZEALANDER'S IMPRESSIONS.

"MUSSOLINI HAS DONE GOOD"

HOMELAND AND CONTINENT,

A brief review of an extensive overseas tour by Mr. E. D. Mosloy, S.M., of Christchurch, and formerly rf Auckland, is given in the "Ciiiistchurch Times"

The party spent eight memorable days in Rome, exploring places of historic and scenic interest. They were treated with the greatest courtesy by the people. They motored through central Italy to Florence and then to Venice. Mr. Mosley, who was accompanied by Mrs. Mosley, was particularly interested in the buildings erected in St. Mark's Square by Napoleon. From Venice they went to Milan, with its marvellous cathedral. Everywhere the party went in Italy, Mr. Mosley was struck by the intense cultivation. There 'was not" a square yard of usable land that was not growing something. Men, women and chidlren •ill worked in the fields from morning to night. What they had accomplished was shown by the fact that Italy was now exporting her primary products, whereas before the war she was importing halt of her food requirements. "The Italian people, seem contented," said Mr. Mosley. "For ouo thing, they do not seem to have time to show signs of unrest or distress. Mussolini is undoubtedly exercising a tremendous amount of power in the country, but he seems to have done it good. At any rate, Italy is cleaned up to-day. The roads and railways are very good and we did not have the slightest trouble or difficulty wherever we went." Switzerland and France. The tourists went by rail through the Siinplon Tunnel into Switzerland, where they made Montreux, on "Lake Geneva, their headquarters. In Switzerland there was a most wonderful profusion of wild flowers. At a height of 6000 feet in one place, where the snow was just disappearing, there were crocuses— purple, white and pink—and wild azaleas everywhere, and just beginning to flower.

A visit was paid to the League of Nations buildings, and also to the much, more imposing International Labour Bureau. They were told that the furniture of one room in this building had been presented by the New Zealand Labour party.

From Switzerland the party crossed into France and Paris, where they visited the more famous sights, including the palace at Versailles and Napoleon's Tomb, which Mr. Mosley said was one of the most wonderful things in the world and one that could never be forgotten by anyone who saw it. At Versailles they saw the room and the tables where the peace treaty was signed.

They then spent some time visiting the battlefields of the Great War at Mons, Lille, Armentieres and Ypres. It was a very heartrending sight, but fortunately most of the habitations had been restored. There was not as much left of the trenches as one might have expected, though the visitors saw a number of German concrete fortifications, especially at Messines, where the New Zealanders fought.

One of the most impressive sights in this area was the Menin Gate, on which were inscribed the names of 50,000 soldiers who were obliterated and whose bodies were never found. Here and there in the countryside were wonderfullykept graveyards, and it might be some comfort to the relatives of those buried there to know that they were situated in a countryside of extraordinary beauty. A visit was paid to the old field of Waterloo at Brussels, and Mr. Mosley remarked on the contrast between that tiny battleground and the huge front of the Great War. Yet almost as important a result had depended on both conflicts. German Prosperity. Some time was spent in Germany at Cologne and Berlin. "We liked Germany and we liked the German people," said Mr. Mosley. "They were more like our own people, and gave us a very pleasant time." He was astounded at the activity in the countryside through which they passed. There were no unemployed and all the people seemed to be putting their shoulders to the wheel to help Germany gain her former commercial position. The people seemed to be quite contented. "I am quite satisfied Germany is a great nation," said Mr. Mosley. "Their education system is the finest in the world." The ex-Emperor's palace at Potsdam, now belonging to the nation and kept as a museum, was of special interest. In the wonderful dining room, whieli could seat 400 guests, all the pillars,

walls and ceiling were covered with po • ished shells and precious stones from all parts of the world. It showed the unlimited extravagance of the ex-Kaiser. Some of his sons were still hvmg )» Berlin unpretentiously. They were comparatively poor and no one seemed to take any" notice of them. The tourists then crossed France again and spent some time in Holland, whence they flew over to Croydon, England. They spent five weeks there and ar. Mos'iey was quite satisfied that law, Berlin and. Koine rolled into one coui not replace London. After speak. of the great impression made upon m by the Tower of London, the House of Parliament and other famous LomW buildings, Mr. Mosley described the m made through "England, Scotland w Wales. England and Scotland were huge garden and the banks ot » Thames, down which the traveller came from Oxford to Henley, were J beautiful with flowers. They we™ >° tnnatc in experiencing fine weather a the time they were in Great Britain alj so were able to appreciate the counir; aide at its best. ' s