NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 19, 18 October 1943, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

If the announcement of Italy’s declaration of war against Germany lacks the savour of a dramatic denouement, it is because this development has not been unexpected, following as it does the logic of recent events. The Germans say that they expected it to happen. They also add that now that it has happened it will make no difference. In saying this they are shutting their eyes to the obvious advantages to the Allies of having Italy as a co-belligerent instead of a vanquished nation whose territory has become a battleground between her conquerors and her former Axis partners in ruthless aggression. As a co-belligerent Italy should be able to extend official aud military co-operation to the Allies, and with a corresponding swing-over of Italian public sentiment in the same direction, the Germans may find that the new development will make n considerable difference to their fortunes in Italian territory. The motive behind the Italian decision no doubt is that by co-operating with the Allies toward the defeat of Germany, Italy herself may be given more lenient treatment at the peace table. But the Italian jieople cannot' reasonably expect the United Nations, least of all France, to forget what has happened in the past. It was Italian co-operation in the European Axis that made Hitler’s grandiose schemes possible to attempt. It was Italy who deserted Austria when by keeping her pledge to that country she might have saved her. And there are other black marks as wel). All that Italy should be allowed to do in the meantime is, in Mr. Churchill's picturesque phrase, to “work her passage” out of her present troubles by co-operating with the Allies.

The statement made at the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation Conference in Napier to the effect that cargo pillaging in this country was not only increasing but had also become organized, is a very disturbing one. Ono speaker used the term “an organized racket,” and another spoke of the existence of some system or systems by which goods stolen in transit were being “black-marketed.” Activities of this kind —which could, unless decisively dealt with, lead to organized lawlessness over a wide and socially very dangerous field—should not be beyond detection in this small country. There would be every good reason for the Government to instruct the Commissioner of Police to make an intensive effort in this direction, even if it meant tlie formation of a special branch and further recruitment to tlie force in main port centres. The loss to the community from pillaging is substantial and continuous, and falls in the long run on the public. In addition to that, the effect of pillaging and illegal marketing is inflationary and demoralizing. No means of eradicating this evil should be overcome or set aside on the score of either expense or shortage of manpower. Furthermore, persons convicted of pillaging or of dealing in pillaged goods should be given exemplary punishment in keeping with the character of this crime against the national war effort.