Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, FRIDAY, DEC. 28, 1934.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18590, 28 December 1934, Page 4

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, FRIDAY, DEC. 28, 1934.

REGIMENT AT f ON IN ITALY Amongst the several great social experiments in operation in the world to-day there is none more interesting than that initiated in Italy a few weeks ago, when Benito Mussolini set a precedent in world history by formally opening in the Hall of Julius Caesar on Capitolinc Hill a new assembly founded ori entirely idealistic lines. Twelve years of Fascism have transformed Italy and established a perfect regimentation of the productive forces of the country, so successful that the Duce has been emboldened to enlist them in what he describes as a “Corporative State.” The fundamental principle underlying all Fascist legislation is that, capital and labor are recognised as legal entities and that their respective organisations are a part of the structure of the State. This is contrary to the usual concept, and especially in AngloSaxon countries where the organisations of both capital and labor are treated as private bodies. Even in America the National Recovery programme of Mr. Roosevelt does not go nearly so far as the Mussolini scheme, under which the officials of a labor union or of a federation of industrialists have virtually the character of governmoitt officers. I'hdy function under the supervision of the Ministry of Corporations. Now conies the Council of Corporations, a new economic Parliament, which, will govern Italy in place of the Parliament now defunct and swept away, it- is thought, for ever, Gone arc all the old politi-

cal boundaries, gone the party system with its “dog tights,” and in place thereof is a national convention in which, for the first, time in any country, it is believed, representatives of Capital and Labor, equal in power, sit in deliberative assembly to direct the legislative affairs of a nation. In this Council with the Premier and his Cabinet are 823 delegates from the 22 corporations of the new- Fascist state, representative of every section of economic life. As Mussolini led the world in a system of post-war dictatorships that has spread throughout Europe, he now loads the world with the Fascist conception of the twentieth century evolution of government that has spread through the. Greek republics, the kingdoms and empires and parliaments and congresses to a body worked out rationally to represent citizens according to their station and their work. “This,” declared the Duce in his speech at the opening of the new Parliament, “is the most imposing event in the history of Italy. Indeed, it is unprecedented in any history. The Fascist Corporation begins its active existence from to-day. It. is one destined to operate in every single sector of the national life, to examine all problems of general character —namely, political problems. This assembly will substitute for other institutions (the Parliament) which belong to a phase of history already relegated to the past. The Fascist revolution will maintain this • principle, inaugurated here, of the equality of all individuals before the state, and will add another one: The equality of all individuals regarding work as a social duty.” Discussing the ideals of the now system, he said: “This century can not admit the inevitability of poverty. Extensive famine, artificially produced, can not bo tolerated. Italy will guarantee the work of its people.” The scheme goes further and not only guarantees lint insists on work. Compulsory work for all able-bodied Italians, including scions of the ancient families who have made history will lie part of the new corporative state programme. Work as a social duty for everyone is the ideal. “The Fascist revolution,” said Mussolini, “maintains the principle of equality of all individuals before the state, and the equality of alt regarding work as a social duty.” Italy has quite a large leisured class and the new programme particularly strikes at the old landed aristocracy which for centuries has lived in the world’s capitals whilst its lands have been developed at homo by hired administrators, As far back as 1025 Mussolini attacked those who were “loafing around in de luxe hotels while they were needed for the colonisation of Africa.” There are many of the aristocratic families, it is fair to state, who have gone into industry or have remained at home to manage heir estates, and Mussolini has been unsparing in his praise of such meu as the late Don Caetani, an engineer who performed invaluable work in the great land reclamation projects which are- doing so much to expand Italian agriculture. Other provisions of the Fascist concept include the regimentation of youth into semimilitary organisations and every baby henceforth born in Italy is to be conscripted from the cradle for this great youth organisation. The military spirit is being inculcated throughout the entire population, the object being to show the world that Italy is a strong, virile nation, ready to defend its rights and to take its part in protecting the peace of the world. The novel system of government constitutes a most interesting experiment, and whilst it may not be suited to the temperament and traditions of our own nation, British people everywhere will wish Italy' well in its valiant renaissance effort.