ITALY’S WEEK OF STRIKES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27279, 20 February 1954, Page 7

ITALY’S WEEK OF STRIKES

Government Faces Crisis (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) ROME, February 18. The Prime Minister of Italy, Mr Mario Scelba, faced jeers and angry shouts in Parliament today, as a climax to the week of strikes which paralysed Venice and North-Eastern Italy. Mr Scelba put the programme of the week-old Government to the Senate and later to the Deputies and sought a vote of confidence. His speech was continually interrupted by Communists, Socialists and Neo-Facists. Mr Scelba, the Christian Democrat head of the left-of-centre coalition, said he would do all he could to protect democracy from Left or Right .extremes. He confirmed Italian loyalty to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and promised to attempt to reach a solution of the Trieste dispute. He will shortly ask Parliament to ratify the European Defence Treaty.

Mr Scelba promised a bill to ensure imprisonment for tax dodgers, pay rises for civil servants, cheap homes for 200,000 poor families, further land reform, increased productivity measures to fight unemployment and defence of the lira.

He also promised public works and social security plans. Mr Scelba said: “We do not underestimate the dangers of our situation, but it seems that those who say democracy in Italy is on a decline are completely off the track.

“An overwhelming majority are for democracy. Its cause is safe if those responsible co-operate to defend it and accept the necessary sacrifices,” he said.