MODERN ITALY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5220, 23 December 1927, Page 3

MODERN ITALY.

MUSSOLLNI’S POLICE FORCED THREE BRANDS TO KEEP ORDER. “You can’t fool with the law in Italy with impunity,” said Mi' Albert Russell, director of J. J. Niven and Co., who has just returned to Well*?®; ton’ from a world tour. “Mussolini stands no nonsensei from anyone. He has three brands of policeman on duty at every street corner in every city to see that you play the game according to his rules. First there is the ‘cara-i biniqri,’ or military police, who are provided with long swords; apd revolvers as a means of offence or defence ; then there are the civil police, who also flourish long swords and revolvers. I suppose these two sections of police have always existed. Now, since the Mussolini regime, they have been supplemented by the Faoisti police; the ‘Black Sfiirts,’ who also are privileged to wear long swordsand revolvers. With all. these guardians of the peace, law apd order should rule, but there is still a feeb ing that Mussolini is taking too much upon himself, and occasionally there is opposition in certain sections to the domination of his Facisti. For instance, when we were there Mussolini, who is known as ‘Il Duce,’ s.aid it was necessary to devise ways and means of stabilising the lira, which, in common with the franc of France and Belgium, has depreciated considerably. So, with his usual methods, he ordered’ everyone—manufacturers, shopkeepers, warehousemen, etc. to reduce the price of their wares by 10 per cent, on a certain date, in order that the purchasing power of the lira should be increased. We were not there long enough after this decree had been promulgated to judge of its effect, but we certainly took immediate advantage ofl the 10 per cent, reduction. Apart from politics, Italy is a mighty interesting country. We were particularly struck with the cities of the north, especially Milan a city of a thousand charms.”