PEASANTS SEIZE LAND

Chronicle (Levin), 7 December 1949, Page 5

PEASANTS SEIZE LAND

'N.Z.P.A.

Reuter .

Widespread Italian Rising Against Owners

Covw'iQnt )

Received Wednesday, 10.20 a.m. ROME, Dec. 6. Weary and desperate peasants from the outskinis of ftome to the toe of Italy stood guard tonight over plots of land they have seized from wealthy landowners. The "peasant revolt" reached the gates of Rome only today, but already some peasants . have pioughed plots of land. A spokesman said grimly: "We have planted our seed and we intend to reap the harvest." Most of the several thousand acres of uncultivated land which the peasants have taken over is the propertv of the great Italian land 'barons. The main roads leading south from Rome are crowded with peasant caravans, oxen and ploughs on their way to the fields 'they have seized. Tension hangs heavily over the countryside as police riot squads, specially armed with car'bines, move to strategic points. _ The leading peasants are officials of the left-wing Confederaterra (Agricultural Union) . Unrest on Italy's land, aggravated by 1,000,000 . unemployed workers, has been smouldering since the end of the war. Land occupatioh by peasams started several times in 1946, but did not develop to the present proportions. Several months ago the Government introduced Bills to whittle down the great estates which still exist throughout Italy. Many of them lie derelict, held by absentee lan-dlords as rough shooting.One peasant "rebel" near Rome said today: "This is not a matter of politics as far as I am concerned. It is something much simpler — a matter of bread to feed ourselves."