FASCISM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 196, 20 July 1937, Page 7

FASCISM

ITS ADVENT IN ITALY. ADDRESS TO W.E.A. “To many people Fascism means castor oil, violence, political prosecution, aggressive nationalism and rampant reactionary despotism,” said Mr S. J. Bennett, B.Sc., in an address under the auspices of the Palmerston North branch of the Workers’ Educational Association on Saturday evening. His subject was “The Basis of Fascism” and he went on to say that this form of Government was hated because it believed in classes instead of a classless society; because it supported the private ownership of property, and because it denied the usefulness of internationalism and the possibility of lasting peace. “If you examine your own reactions you will find quite a lot of emotionalism and fear and hatred without much understanding,” he added. “To-day it is a fashion to call another person a Fascist or a Communist when his oilier opinions are not agreeable. Words are used to obscure issues and to hide the lack of thoughts.” Mr Bennett described the advent of Fascism in Italy in 1920. The War had ended; the country 'had lost 700,000 killed in battle and had received little or nothing of the spoils. The people felt themselves disgraced in the eyes of the world and deceived by their own politicians, and it w-as in that spirit that Fascism was accepted with Mussolini, once a Marxist Socialist, as leader. The Fascist creed and the Fascist policy wore outlined by Mr Bennett, tlio whole foundation of things, he said, being “Mussolini 'is always right.” The Italians were docile, and he proceeded to tell the reasons why. In the control of the State the Fascists were supported by the army, navy, air force and the police. The freedom of the people to unite, criticise and agitate had been suppressed. The workers were poor and under-nourished and the average person had grown such that he simply clung to the old ratner than try something dangerouslv new. Fascism, declared Mr Bennett, had done nothing for Italy; it was opposed to Socialism, democracy and pacifism. Where did the country stand to-day? he asked. Industrially and socially Italy had lost ground, and in art and culture she wa-s poorer. Deflation had undermined the structure of State finance and collapse seemed only to be a matter of time. “Still, so long as Mussolini holds sway the people keep quiet in order to Jive,” concluded the speaker.