NO HANDSHAKES

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 May 1933, Page 5

NO HANDSHAKES

FASCISTS TO SALUTE BY ORDER. The Secretary-General of the Fascist Party has issued a new order by which the custom of “hand-shaking’ is officially abolished in Fascist Italy. The reason given for this change is that handshaking is “anti-hygienic and unaesthetic.” The meeting at which the order was issued was attended by some fifty representative provincial leaders. The Order was as follow:— “Whereas the Ronin salute has now become general in Italy and has been adopted by the general public, the shaking of hands, especially at official functions is to be abolished- ' “It shall also be abolished as a mode of saluting a superior on meeting him or leaving him, and shall be substituted by the Roman salute. Handshaking to congratulate speakers at the close of a speech shall also be abolished, including the practice of going to shake the hand of a speaker in the Chamber. ‘‘Tlio reason for suppressing, handshaking is that it is not hygienic, and is unaesthetic, and that it causes joss of time and other inconveniences. • An interesting matter for speculation is whether Mussolini himseli will submit to the Order. It is one of his peculiar traits that he takes pleasure always in going to meet any caller at the Palazzo Venezia and cordial.y shaking hands with him. The Roman salute and Mussolini. pleasant, smile do not go very well together The Duce will probably, in spite of the Fascist Secretary’s order, prefer to keep to his smile and to ms cordial shake of the hand.