THE CONDITION OF ITALY

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10147, 21 September 1898, Page 6

THE CONDITION OF ITALY

INTERVIEW WITH MR JAMES ALLEN, M.HR.

(BY 'JELEOKAFH.)

(FKOM OUR SPECIAL CORRKSrOSDKST.) WELLINGTON, September 20. Mr James Allen, the member for Bruce, arrived tins evening from London by toe Gothic. He was met and welcomed by leading members of the Opposition, and on taking bis seat in the House this evening. He vm greeted with a hearty round of applause from both the Opposition and Government benches. Mr Allen has very little English news, as he was only four or five days in London. Owing to his "daughter's illness, he was detained in Rome, fle went there for a fortnight, and had to stay for nineteen weeks. His daughter is, however, very much better, and is able to walk a little. Mr Allen saw "very few New Zealanders in London, lne was absent on the Continent, and he also failed to see Mr Thomas Mackenzie, who is likely to stay in England for another year or two. Mr Allen spent most of his time, in -«y sight-seeing, and "doing a little Italian." Walking into Cook s office in Rome one day, he said, he was never more surprised in his life than to see his old friend, Mr A. Wilson, of Dunedin, standing at the counter. . • ■ In answer to some questions aboub the internal troubles in Italy, Mr Allen said that there was undoubtedly serious trouble with the Socialists and Anarchists. The bread riots, however, were not quite so serious as outsiders imagined. Though the troops were called out, there was no great need for their services. "For instance," he said, "the soldiers were under my windows night and day, but there was no rioting in Rome." Mr Allen does not think the monarchy is by any means safe there. The national debt is very large, and taxation presses heavily on the people, while the standing army and the navy are maintained at great cost. Still, there are signs of prosperity in the, country, and if it were managed properly, things would not be so bad. Politically, however, it is corrupt—"more corrupt than New Zealand," added Mr Allen, "and that is bad enough." Sirs Allen has returned,with her husband. They had a delighfc/ul passage out on the Gothic, and are very glad to get home again.