ELECTORAL REFORM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 January 1925, Page 7

ELECTORAL REFORM.

ITALY-S NEW MEASURE. Follows Britain’s law. BY CABLE—PRESS A SPOLIATION —COPY RIG 111 ' Received Jan. 19, 12.10 p.m. ROME, Jan. IS. 'With the aholiton of plural voting, which i.s part of Mu-sol ini s original Bill, but which was withdrawn with the Government’s consent, the now electoral law follows the general principles of the English electoral law in every particular. An important change is the reduction of the period that must elapse between the dissolution of the Chamber and a now election, from three months to twenty days, giving Cabinet a better chance of choosing a psychologically suitable moment to hold the elections. ITALIAN CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. VOTE CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT. ROME, Jan. 10.

Crowds gathered outside Parliament and the momentous sitting opened in an atmosphere of excitement, the galleries being packed The deputies spoke amidst a i tinning fire of interruptions. At one moment it looked as. if blows were being exchanged. The veteran, Signor Giolitti, rose with a vehement gesture, and appeared about to leave the Chamber. but bis friends dissuaded him.

Then Signor Orlando (the cxPremier) rose, and the tumult ceased. His speech was a vigorous indictment of the Government’s methods. He agrc%sl that at no period in Italian history had there been such wholesale suppression of the press, such a denial of personal liberty and public discussion.

The Premier (Signor Mussolini) several times interrupted Signor Oilaudo. saying the Opposition was itself responsible for necessitating repression. Later lie interjected : “Twelve Fascist! have been killed In one month,” and Signor Orlando retorted that his friends were not responsible for that. The Chamber of Deputies voted confidence in the Government by 307 votes to 33 after the attack launched by the ex-Premier (Signor Orlando) on the Electoral Reform Bill.

The Chamber adjourned sine die after passing .at express speed the new Electoral Bill, reverting to the system of single member constituencies. The Opposition, throughout nraciicaliy ignored the merits of the new meaure and concentrated on the argument that fair representation of the people was impossible under the present conditions.

Signor Mussolini left several details to the free vote of the Chamber, notably tlie plural voting proposal, which the Opposition contended would operate strongly in favour of the Fascists. These proposals wore rejected, but the main Rill was adopted.