Shameful Black-Shirt Scandal

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 41, 11 May 1927, Page 10

Shameful Black-Shirt Scandal

British Fascists’ Unpaid BHk

LOFTY IDEALS, LOW PERFORM ANCES

VI7HEN the time comes for the v tory to be penned of the bw shirted band of men and women kn *' as Fascisti, who have pledged tli l selves to rid the country of CoriM atism, Liberalism and Communism 1 ' will be recorded, if a worthy work ,w R they began badly in Great Britaimh failing to pay for their shirts. 07 The story (says "John BuH"\ ■ this:— ' ■ During the disastrous years of a, war many expert women needk workers were reduced to poverty h the state of their trade. In many casa there was at home, in some humlM garret, a dependant for whom the* women foresaw starvation. They desperate. A certain public-spirited lady, L. M. Fox, saw the predicament which faced them and organised them into a band to make hospital equipment. Thus, these nimble fingers worked through the long days of war at home, doubly glad in the thought that the\ were earning an honest living and yet providing for the heroes whose lot it was to fall wounded. When the war ceased, Miss p ox founded the Women’s Needlework Depot of Chancery Lane, still keeping her former workers. The new venture progressed favourably and a continuity of happiness was promised. Fine Words—But! With joy they welcomed in December, 1924, orders to make black shirts for the National Fascisti which had thrust itself upon the country in the previous October. It is only natural that they regarded such orders as gilt-edged. They were working for a movement inspired by the most noble, the most exalted ideals, a “national” fellowship, pulsating with such a sentiment as this: “Comrades, under the shadow of our banners, it is beautiful to live, but, if it is necessary, it is still more beautiful to die.” Reverently we bow our heads and our thoughts instinctively fly back to the days of the old Lyceum. Bathed in the idealism of their work, the widows whose husbands fell in the war served joyously in their homes from December, 1924, until April, 1925, But they had to live. There was food and rent to pay for. The National Fascisti headquarters had not forwarded any payment for their sombre undergarments. A Strange Coincidence Reluctantly, for the sake of the women, Miss Fox applied for a summons on October 21, 1925, against the president, Mr. L. A. Howard, and the treasurer, Mr. G. G. Thompson, for a matter of £24 odd that was owing to her. The bailiffs reported that these two gentlemen lived in furnished rooms and had no goods. Strangely enough, the origincl National Fascisti was disbanded in the same month. In the July previous, Lieut.-Colonel H. Rippon-Seymour joined the organisation as an ordinary member; in the following September he was appointed to the council. When Mr. Howard, of whom the bailiffs reported so unfavourably, re signed the presidency in the November afterwards, the gallant colonel succeeded him. Still the Women’s Needlework Depo had received no money. Miss Fox wa asked to believe that as the Nationa. Fascisti had disbanded in October, 1?--and reconstituted a month later, it wai an entirely new organisation. A Stirring Letter

Colonel Seymour, as president, was invested with very full powers. In fac, the colonel appeared to be the Fascia i movement. His one assertion all along has been that as the organisation had been *<> completely reconstituted, he could J?'. possibly accept any legal responsibility for debts contracted by the old orgaß|* sation, although admitting a moral od •- gation. . . , her workers have no wish that n We are quite sure that Miss Fox an personally should pay the debt, rather that his organisation These unfortunate women *>eliev« in Fascism; they are not interest®* the fact that the financial side of t National Fascisti was so hopeless muddled. . - fIP What about this stirring circus letter signed by Colonel Seymour issued in March of last' year ■ an appeal for funds, couched in ty cally Fascist language: . “In order that the organisation sna be able to cope with the ‘Red Men which stalks abroad almost unene • and thereafter place itself in a assailable position financially, it been found necessary to make a peal to the public for funds. . The letter goes on to hope . o^:l : s3e d appeal to give the party an estebus position among the politicl pa the future.

Glamour Gone , But is not that pure party Where in all the world does chivalry, this honour, these loty come in? Why should an org i our ish born for the good of manki rlU st when poor, humble seamstress go without? h t the We should have thought tnai exalted minds that were inspires Fascismo would have considers “more beautiful to die than 1 , h( j r honour a debt, contracted y jurl brothers in the cause, no matte indirect. „ Q tlv mi." Yet, it seems we are . s "t e ; d in»ir taken, for still they march for the beneath their banner. Vase is® 0 seamstresses the glamour of has gone.