UNIQUE ELECTIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10854, 25 March 1929, Page 5

UNIQUE ELECTIONS

RESTRICTIONS ON YOTFRS IX ITALY.

ONLY IMtODI't TIPS MAY VOTE. United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright (Australian Tress Association.) (Received March tM, 11 p.mA LONDON Mai eh 23

The Italian elections are the strangest ever held. The electors are limited to tho.se who ‘'produce.”

This has reduced the normal electorate from 12; millions to nine nrJlicns of men only. They must vote “Yes” or “No” lor the list of tour hundred candidates selected by the .Fascist Grand Council from a. greater number, nominated by thirteen corporat’ons or guilds. The- •deputies, therefore, do not represent particular constitutencies or party , lor there_ is only one -party, muneiy its Fascist sponsors. It is claimed lor the system that it abolishes sterile political struggles and. makes the ( ham her a kind of technical advisory hoard to the Government.. The tenth anniversary of the foundation of Faso sin, which was celebrated on Saturday, coincided with the winding up of the election campaign. Thousands of lings waved in Rome, bells pealed, scores of aeroplanes circled the city, bands played, and the city at night time was illuminated. Mcamvh le the four hundred candidates addressed audiences just as though they were fighting for scats, whereas they, were permitted only this one speech. There were no posters, no meetings, and no opposition anywhere. (Received March 21, A.A p.in.) ROM E, March 22.

Signor Mussolini, in a manifesto before the elections, issued on Sunday, said: “Behind; every voting paper, Fascism wisljcd to sec a laith ready to servo and an army ready to fight.”