LIFE IN ITALY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25799, 21 March 1945, Page 3

LIFE IN ITALY

TALK BJ MR J. T. BURROWS

An interesting talk on Italy was given by Mr J. T. Burrows, rector of the Waitaki Boys’ High School, at the annual social of the women’s section, Oamaru R.S.A., on Tuesday night. Mrs Ericson, president of the women’s section, welcomed Mr and Mrs Burrows, and presented Mrs Burrows with a shoulder spray. Mr Burrows said that most of the New Zealand Division’s life was spent away from towns, living with the peasant, who had little knowledge of why they were in the war. Yet there was hardly a family which had not been affected by the war. They had nothing to show for tlie long years of suffering. Most of the homes of the peasants were not much more than hovels, and they had only a few acres of land to cultivate. The cattle were brought into homes at night and were kept on the bottom floor, whilst the people slept upstairs. Again, some people were unfortunate in only having one-storey houses, and therefore they had to sleep with their stock. Italy was a country of great wealth and poverty, the bulk of the people working for small wages, Mr Burrows said. A wealthy man might own 10 farms, of approximately 1000 acres each, and on each farm about 10 famines Sit 30s worked for an average wage of: about 30S per week, in addition to a small quantity of grain and oil. Supervising these farms was a man who was paid about £3OO a vear, and above him again would be a man who managed all 10 farms at a wage of about £IOOO. The landlord was rarely seen, because he usually lived m Rome or some other city. The profits from-these farms were usually very high, Si'S If MussoM had stopped short of going to war Italy would been a different place There was evidence of Mussolini’s hand everywhere —the erection of modern buildings, first-class schools, rebuilding of statues, making of good roads draining of swamps for use as farms, and neat gardens. The Italian was not a fighting.man, but: a man of culture. He was an excellent cook musician, barber, and sculptor, and had many good qualities. Italy was a great land of sport, there being ™ an y courts, swimming baths, sports and football grounds, and gymnastic halls. Mussolini’s private gymnasium was built of solid marble. His private swimming baths were in the open air, but in co'd a button could be pressed on the wall, and a sliding roof would cover them. Thev were also electrically heated. Mr Burrows also gave accounts of battles fought round Florence in which the New Zealand Division played an important part In conclusion, Mr Burrows stated that Mussolini tried to teach his people to be militarily-minded, and that was where h< On the motion of Mr A. C. Piper, the speaker was accorded a vote of blanks. Items were contributed by Mrs Grant (piano-accordion! and Mrs D. G. Souness (songs). Mrs Hollow was accompanist.