ITALY FACES IT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 493, 30 June 1932, Page 5

ITALY FACES IT.

Mussolini Tackles the Depression. WAGES TAX THERE, TOO. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, June 30. Obvious pride in the accomplishments of Mussolini in restoring the national prestige of the Italian nation was radiated by Signor Guilio Cerioli, an Italian nobleman now on a business visit to New Zealand, in an interview when he was asked how Italy was faring in the depression. Signor Cerioli was one of the first thousand of the now great Army of the Fascisti, and is a personal friend of Signor Mussolini. “ Mussolini is performing miracles in solving the problems that are facing the statesmen of the world at the present time.” said Signor Cerioli with a broad smile signifying his confidence in the Dictator. He added that Italy had a population of 42,000,000 and possessed scarcely any natural resources, and yet Mussolini had succeeded in finding employment for almost every man in the community. The number of unemployed fluctuated, but at present the total throughout Italy would be about 420,000. Unemployment did not really exist, however, for most of the people had a small plot of land and were content to till it and cultivate it. There were no large estates as in New Zealand. The depression was being felt in Italy, as it was everywhere else, but the people by hard work were assist- • ing the State in its endeavour to overcome its difficulties. Mussolini had organised large public works, notably in the drainage of tracts of land for settlement in small areas. The Italian was perfectly happy working a small ; plot of land sufficient to maintain him- J self and his dependants. The manu- 1 facturers had been compelled to keep ' their factories going, and sometimes 1 the State subsidised industries to en- ] able them to carry on. Unemployment was more acute in the ’ large cities, and the man who was f actually without work was subsidised i by means of a wage tax, similar to that 1 operating in New Zealand. i