CABINET RESIGNS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 773, 23 March 1910, Page 7

CABINET RESIGNS.

ITALIAN POLITICAL SITUATION. MARITIME/SUBVENTIONS. By Tcleßfaph-Fresi Xesociatlon-Cobrrlßlit. ,'' . :;. Rome, March 21. ■..The Italian Cabinet,.foreseeing a defeat on the. maritime' subventions ques,tion, has resigned. "... , : ■ '..'',- ' Tlio Giolitti Cabinet,, which' had heJd office since 1906;. resigned in Decembel last, owing, "to an adverse vote in connection with a Reform Bill, and Baron Sonnino formed'a*Ministry. •' ~-.;■ GOVERNMENT AND SHIPPINO :: ; ■ V : . ; ~- FIRIWS.;:,^:;;;■.;■'.;"-. -/ ; Referring to the reassembling of the Italian' Chamber , of Deputies.on February 10/ the' Rome correspondent of "The Times" states: , , "' . The Chamber of Deputies reassembles to-morrow..'-.'. The measure; which is awaited with: most interest is , tHiat of the Marine conventions.: : Admiral Bettolo's scheme is not only completed, but actual pledges have been signed by! the Government', and tho contracting shipping firms. As those firms are the-same who undertook the , contract under auction last October -all the difflr: '.culties ,, . arising : 'frbm : ■;■ adjudication*; of. that auction haye-. r been happily 'resolved. 'Those firms—the Pierce-Parodi aid the Savoy Lloyd—consent to their liboratiou from the .first contract and will combine with certain smaller companies—the Venetian Steam Navigation Society, .the. Upper Italy. Navigation Society, and the Apulian Shipping Sp-o;etyr-:tb form a company.to be entitled "the Italian Society for carrying on. marine subsidised services.".. This company will'represent, it- is said, a capital of £3,200,000, and pledges itself, :pending, •of course, the" sanction of Parliament, to carry out , the services required by/the' Government in consideration of a total annual subsidy of £560,000. Admiral .Bettolo's scheme represents an ■.- annual reduction of £360,000 in subsidies, reduces also the length of the contract from. 20 to 15. years, and docs away with other objectionable features.of the original Schanzer Bill. So far it has been well received by .the press. ■■■'.'.'■,. . . .