BACK TO THE LAND

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 299, 4 December 1935, Page 7

BACK TO THE LAND

Mussolini s Instructions

LONDON, Dee. 3.

The “Daily Telegraph’s” Rome correspondent says that the directors of the Bank of Italy have placed £13,000,000 at Signor Mussolini’s disposal to fight sanctions and spend on winter relief.

The Government’s fears of increased unemployment when imported raw materials are consumed and sanctions have killed foreign trade is reflected in instructions issued to employers for general extension of the 40-hour week with proportionate pay-outs. They must employ as many people as possible if only for two or three days a week to enable work to be found. Unemployed in large cities have been ordered to return to their native villages and till the soil. Workless who have drifted to the towns must also return to the land. King Victor Emanuel contributed to the “plebiscite of gold” spreading throughout Italy in aid of the antisanctiouist campaign, sending a substantial offering of gold and silver plate. Widowed Great War mothers who lost sons are urging married women to surrender their wedding rings, for which they are arranging ceremonies on December 18 at every war memorial in Italy.