MUSSOLINI AND FASCISM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 52, 1 February 1932, Page 2

MUSSOLINI AND FASCISM.

ITALIAN DICTATOR’S LIFE.

LUNCH CLUB ‘ADDRESS.

Mussolini and Fascism as wound round the life of the Italian Dictator were discussed by Mr J. A. Brailsford, 8.A., in a very interesting address to the Rotary Club to-day. Mr W. G. Black presided over a ' large attendance. Visitors welcomed were Messrs L. Sarton and D. N. Miller, both of Wellington. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs C. T. Salmon (who was indisposed), L. H. Collinson, W. S. Carter and S. L. Freeman. .

“Not only among extremists do we find an impatience with the present system of Government, but among moderate elements also,” stated _Mr Brailsford in leading up to his subject. “Some want the dictatorship of the proletariat and others that of _ Mussolini. I think there is a great disgust at what we suppose is democracy, but which many people regard as a sham. There is no.true leadership. There is need of that and Mussolini may have at, least something to teach us in the ways that the system of government Should be reformed.”

Mussolini, stated the speaker/was a man of outstanding' character and dauntless physical courage. It was as a violent Socialist that he went to Switzerland, where he worked as a labourer during the day and played the violin at dances at night. Italy was not then comfortable for him. He was an enemy of “boss tyranny” and declared that it was the right of people who were being crushed down to *kill their oppressors. He was forced from one canton to another until he was finally banished from Switzerland because of his violent views. He wrecked a restaurant because the waitress accused him of cheating and later was in trouble through fighting a duel over an economic argument. TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT.

Returned to Italy as a prisoner, Mussolini was welcomed by tne extreme Socialists, but he was imprisoned eleven times for his views and for his anti-militarism. When he later had assumed the Dictatorship of Italy and led her in opposite paths from those of Socialism, five attempts were made to assassinate him. He, showed his magnanimity by demanding that his followers should not make reprisals. Yet Mussolini was superstitious and after the death of Lord Carnarvon in Egypt he ordered to be removed from his possession a mummy which had come from the tombs of the Pharaohs, He was a man of supreme vanity and one lieard sometimes of his new and ornate uniforms. Much of the playacting of Mussolini had been ascribed to the fact that he knew the Italian peoplo liked melodrama. In his earlier days Mussolini had declared that the proletariat must no more shed blcmd for the moloch of patriotism. He gradually, however, conceived a strong hatred for the Austrians because he considered Italian nationalism was being suppressed in the Tyrol. CORPORAL IN GREAT WAR. The Great War - came. Mussolini fought as a corporal, and then became a leader of Fascist bands which were a group of ex-soldiers, with a revolutionary element. The latter was soon swamped by the former. Fascism opposed the Communistic disorders in Italy and, realising its power; became more dominant, organising throughout Italy. The opportunity came during the great strike of 1922. The strike was a fiasco, but the Fascists marched on Rome. The Government sought their suppression with martial law, hut the King was cognisant of the Government’s weakness, and Mussolini W.#s asked to become Prime Minister. Since then he had been Dictator, suppressing all critics, * allowing no freedom of the; Press, or the organisation of opposition' parties. The third year after he assumed office the Budget was balanced by methods which increased the income tax and lightened the Customs PRIVATE ENTERPRISE ENCOURAGED. Private enterprise had been encouraged by Mussolini, who had handed over to it the State system of telephones. He had retained the railway system as a State business, but had, enforced severe discipline and restored its affairs. He had encouraged the' farmers and peasants and_ had greatly developed hydro-electricity and increased foreign trade by subsidies and agreements. A notable achievement had been the suppression of the criminal and terrorist organisation known as the Mafia. Italy was now suffering like ' other countries. She had severe . unemployment and an adverse trade balance. Mussolini was feeling his way and changing his policy to meet conditions as they rose. Admitting that Fascism and Mussolini had saved the country from disorders and restored some degree of prosperity, we asked ourselves whether the crushing of freedom in Italy was justified. Education even had been put in Fascist chains. It was.to be admitted that there were faults in our democracy, where elections were run on catch cries and absorb promises. The question was whether we could put an end to this system of democracy or mend it. Were we to choose dictatorships? Mussolini had said the road to liberty lay along the lines of recognising the importance of co-operation. The speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of Mr R. H. Billens. v