QUEENSLAND INCIDENT

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1928, Page 5

QUEENSLAND INCIDENT

COAT OF Aims REMOVED FROA CON'S U LA j r,.

(Australian Press Association) (United Service).

BRISBANE, Dec. 27

Resentment piovaiks among Italians ai l.nnislai! because of tho removal of the coat ot arms Lain the front o’ the Italian Consulate (luring the holidays. The Vice-Consul lor Italy. Signor Luciano, in a. statement to-day, descrihe.s it as an insult to the Italian nation. aroiiMiig feeling similar to that

which would he experienced hy Britons it somebody tore down the Union Jack and threw it in the gutter Ho adds: "It is time that such occurrences ended. and I look to the proper authorities to trace the guilty person.”

ENQUIRY ORDERED

BRISBANE, Dec. 28. The Deputy Premier has instructed the police to make every effort to trace the offender who removed the coat-of-arm.s from the Italian Consul’s office at fnnisfail. in North Queensland.

The Deputy Premier points out that brass plates were removed on the same night from other premises at Innisfail, thus indicating that it was a Christmas prank.

ITALIAN ATTITUDE

ROME, Dec. 27

Special inquiries reveal that so far no official report has been received regarding the Queensland coat of arms incident. Representatives of the .Italian Foreign Office and the Government would certainly protest if the official rr'cort from its representative showed there were grounds for such protest.

’XMAS EYE JOKE

BRISBANE, Dee. 29. 11 is now definitely established that a party of roysterers were responsible for the removal of the Italian Coat

of Arms, which later was found decorating the store of a. Chinese. The incident is regarded by most residents as a stupid, practical joke which is common about the ’Ninas season. However. much resentment was caused among the Italian population. Larrikins on the same evening also removed barbers polos, dentists plates

and other signs and erected them elsewhere.