Wairarapa Daily Times [ESTABLISHED OVER 50 YEARS] MONDAY, MAY 30, 1927. THE MUSSOLINI WAY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 30 May 1927, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [ESTABLISHED OVER 50 YEARS] MONDAY, MAY 30, 1927. THE MUSSOLINI WAY.

According to the latest edict of Mussolini, the system of trade unionism is to be utilised by the State for the benefit of all classes—employers as well as employees —but neither Labour nor Capital, nor any other section of the community is to be at liberty to utilise that system “on its own.” At the head of this combination of federations will stand the Ministry of Corporations—the Minister in charge being, of course, Mussolini himself, who, in the multiplicity of his offices, begins now to make Pooh-bah seem but the poorest of placemen. It is true that a National Council of Corporations is also constituted, whose province will be to “assist” the Minister; but the assistance which Mussolini will accept, unless it conforms to his oavii original suggestion, will probably be negligible. And as for tendering advice unasked, or which does not conform to the Dictator’s own ideas, the history of Italy during the last few years leads ns to believe that should any such temerity be exhibited, its reception will hardly be agreeable to the exhibitor. Mussolini has a way with dissenters which is as effective as it is short. The new scheme has undoubtedly been engineered with the object of placing the whole fabric of Italian industrial life—using the word industrial in its very widest sense, and to include all classes in any way associated with industry—still further under the control of the Government. Hardly any effort is made, in fact, to conceal this aim, and in consequence such opposi-

tion to Mussolini’s edicts as dares to lift its head in Italy is exhibiting considerable and very natural uneasiness on the subject of the “Corporative State.” It sees in it, as, indeed, the world at large can scarcely fail to see, Fascism svrit larger than ever. And such a?', prospect brings little pleasure. One peculiarity of the effect of the proposal is that in industrial and financial circles alike this opposition has been aroused, although, of course, the reasons for that opposition are very different. On the one hand, the system puts the climax on the long series of financial interferences which have marked the course of Fascism during the past two years; and on the other there is the fear that the dictatorial methods of the Fascist officials —who, under the systems already in vogue, have shown little consideration for the aspirations of labour—will now become harsher than ever. Ihe new experiment is viewed with the greatest uneasiness, not only by those who have all along been opposed to the Fuce, but also by those who are still his followers. If this uneasiness continues to grow, it may even be that, by one of. the strangest chances of fortune, Mussolini may be forced, in order to counteract the opposition of his one-time adherents,, to seek the support of the Socialists. Undoubtedly, certain advances to them have marked his policy of late. These advances must have been deliberate, but it is almost impossible to conceive that Mussolini will take so tremendous a risk—and so profoundly change his whole previous attitude —as to make definite alliance with the Left. The next few months will, indeed, be pregnant of interest in Italian affairs.