BARON EXPELLED FROM FASCIST PARTY

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6886, 16 April 1929, Page 3

BARON EXPELLED FROM FASCIST PARTY

Opposed to Syndicalism FULL FREEDOM FOR EMPLOYERS A great impression tv as recently caused in the north of Italy by the expulsion from the Fascist Party ot Barone Mazzonis, a wealthy industrialist in Piedmont, who supported Fascism from the Jirst hour and gave immense sums to forward the movemeut. He was accused of having, “by every art and artifice, prevented Fascist Syndicalism from penetrating into his various textile factories, ” The official bulletin explaining the enormity of the offence, may serve as a fnlurc wade ir.count for industrialists m Italy, says the Homo correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph. Tt reads: “Every Black Bhirt in the province, every Fascist industrialist, and especially those who have not as yet understood that it is impossible to be good Fascists without being excellent Syndicalists, arc to know what has happened: Oh, irony! Out of the thousands of factory hands under Barone Mazzonis, cveu including those, belonging to the Fascio of Torre Poliieo, only one workman joined the Fascist Syndicates, -which comprise 120,000 members in the Turin district.

“This incomprehension occurs after seven years of the Fascist regime, and after patient endeavours on the part of the local authorities to culico Barone Mazzonis into a Syndicalist atmosphere. Fascism is not Feudalism; and the punishment inflicted upon Barone Mazzonis will serve as a warning to the lukewarm, and as a comfort to those others who have given proofs of loyalty to the party since Syndicalism has been started.’-' Baron’s Blameless Record. The political past of the recalcitrant baron has been blameless, even from a Fascist point of view. A bitter opponent of Nitti and Giolitti, and indeed of •any democratic government, he ran his factories well and has always shown practical interest in his -workers’ welfare, giving them dormitories, refectories, etc., but he has invariably set his face against imposed obedience. In a serious dispute with his workers soon after the war the baron refused to accept an arbitration settlement, and, when the prefect of Turin officially insisted upon compliance, the baron answered by declaring a lock-out. The Government threatened to occupy and nationalise the factory, but as a Ministerial crisis followed the threat w r as never carried into effect. This millionaire philanthropist welcomed the advent o£ f Fascism because he thought, like many other employers and landowners, that it would not trouble about collective interests, but would facilitate the development of individual enterprise and interests. A Shabby Personality. Barone Mazzonis is a considerable pcx-sonality in Piedmont and Lombardy. He is as open-handed and grand seigneur in acts as be is negligent of bis own personal comforts and appearance. If one met him in the street, attired in antediluvian clothes and shabby bat, he would be tempted to give bis alms, and would never think that bo is the roan who often makes up the deficit of lhe Royal Theatre at Turin. The Baron drives about in an open motor-car he bought thirty years ago which is known in the whole countryside as the “baron’s coffee-machine,” and, at the age of 70, he may be seen about in it in all weathers. It is felt that he w-ill face the latest storm with perfect calm.