ITALY

Southland Times, Issue 18970, 18 June 1923, Page 5

ITALY

NEW ELECTORAL LAW. MAKING DICTATORSHIP SECURE. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) ROME, June 15. The main points in Mussolini’s new electoral law are that it divides the kingdom into 20 electoral divisions, which elect 533 deputies. Candidates shall be presented in one national list, and no list shall be recognised unless there are one-third of the number of possible candidates in any division. Lists are only voted on if they are presented by 1,500 voters in each division. The list that secures an absolute national majority of votes will be divided by 535, and so many seats assigned as correspond with each quotient. The measure is meeting with strong opposition. The Catholic Centre is most refractory because it is threatened with loss of the greatest number of seats. The United Socialists also oppose it; but even if they joined with the Catholics they would be unable to defeat the Bill. The Popularists argue that the scheme is intended to secure the Fascist dictatorship for thirty years. “JOY FEEDING” CONDEMNED. RETURN TO SIMPLE LIFE. • ROME, June 15. (Received June 17, 5.5 p.m.) Following on a speech by Mussolini before the Supreme Council of Fascisti, insisting on the return to simple habits, Signor Vaselli, political chief of the Roman province, issued orders forbidding banquets on the occasions of Black Shirt (Fascisti) celebrations. If refreshments were needed when war memorials were inaugurated, army rations must be served in army tins and instead of elaborate meals. On other occasions modest fare must be provided. Vaselli states that continual joy feeding damaged the Fascist i’s reputation for seriousness.