MUSSOLINI'S WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 106, 7 May 1934, Page 13

MUSSOLINI'S WORK

ADDRESS TO WOMEN

MANY SOCIAL BENEFITS

The Auckland Ponwomon 's Club recently had a lecture from Signor S. Z. Guidicc-(an Italian-journalist) at thoir club, which occasioned much interest. '■■'.'

"Fascism," said the. loeturor, "is what it is—an organisation and a form of Government eminently suited to the Italian temperament and to Italian conditions. It is not meant for other countries —and that is whero so many people orr._ Fascism is the outoomo of national' roquivements, not the introduction of foreign ideas and ideals. In its origin it was Signor Mussolini's own plan, but ho had adapted it from the old Bbman days, modifying it . to, suit modorn conditions,'.'

Mussolini, the man himsolf, was not tho "ogre" of tho world and of individual freedom itself; rather was be the reverse—-a .groat home lover, human, kind, with boundloss lovo for his fellow/ man—-but withal he was firm and strict, for he fully realised a country could not bo raised'from chaos unless there were an iron discipline. So much was ho: vonevatod in Italy that he was considered the successor to Julius Caosar. With him it was - the State first, and all must work for the good of the Statue, not for individual glory arid recompense. ■

"Ho has revolutionised domestic conditions in Italy," continued; the speaker. "He established schools for all, so that not cyori the poorest child can be denied a full-education; he has founded maternity bonuses to assist poor jnpthersj..ho guards tho .ivelfnrQ of i the child in every possible way; he j has introduced into all the schools a very thorough teaching .'of personal hygiene and eugenics for both girls and boysj he has appointed inspectors to investigate the/ home condition of children "who appear poorly clad at school, and if circumstances warrant it, the parents aro assisted to feed, andclothe.their children. ■: Although not a religious man himsolf, ho has effected a full conciliation botwoon tho Italian State and the Tatican,"thus ending the long warfare between tho two.

?'lt must not be thought that the King of Italy is entirely ignoi-cd in Signor Mussolini's plans; it was his Majesty hiiiiself who sent, for Mussolini after the. war and urged him to form a Cabinet. Like the -King of England, King Emanuel is -revered and

loved—but it is II Duco, Premier and Dictator o£ Italy, who does all tho work." 'v: ;: . ;.','•.-