ITALIAN FLAG SALUTED

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1930, Page 5

ITALIAN FLAG SALUTED

CELEBRATION IN AUSTRALIA, To commemorate the restoration of the Italian coat-oLarms, which Was removed from tlie Italian Consular Agency at liinisfail, Queensland, last May, the ceremony of saluting the flag was held, simultaneously in various parts of the Commonwealth by Italian citizehs oil September 15. Tho coat-of-Urms, which was removed by unknown persons and traced to the banks of the Johnstone River, Was restored by the acting-Coilsul for Italy in Queensland, Mr. Mario Melano. Under instructions of the Consul-General, Conimendatore Grossardi, the Italian flag was hoisted by all Italian Consular offices in Australia and by the Italian motor steamer Romolo, hoW iil Australian waters,'at the salne moment as the coat-of-arms was restored at Innisfail.

The Italian flag was accordingly flown for three minutes over the Italian Consular offices in Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth. The flag was hoisted by the Consular representative and Was saluted by the Italians present ih tlie old Roman fashion. Telegrams were.also exchanged at the game time among all Italian "Consular representatives in Australia, worded ‘‘A Noi.” The wording of this telegram cannot be translated literally, being an exclamation of pride and solidarity; as well as a warning to offenders, peculiar to tile Italian language. Just before the restoration .of the I coat-of-arms at liinisfail tho Premier of Queensland, Mr. Moore, sent to the actiiig-Consul in Queensland a ielegranl condemning the removal of the eoat-of-arms as being not only offensive, but stupid, and regretting the inability to secure sufficient evidence to warrant a prosecution, ■ although every effort had ’ been imide in this respect. He also gave an assurance that every possible pre-’ caution would be taken by the Queensland Government to see that no repetition of the incident occurred.