denounced and annulled.'' (' 'Alala,'' Fascist daily paper for the province of Carrara, February 24, 1923.) Increase of Rents. Under decree No. 8 of January 7, 1923, the restrictions on increases in the rents of dwellings were declared no longer operative. In face of the agitation aroused, the Government added provisions for setting up local arbitral commissions, to determine rents without appeal, dwelling by dwelling. These commissions are dominated by the local Fascist groups. The decrees of September 10, 1923, No. 2023, and December 3, 1922, No. 1583, permitted increases in the rent of agricultural holdings. Liquidation of Reconstruction Authority. Decree No. 2022, of September 24, 1923, ordered the liquidation of the Ente Unione· Edilizia, the authority which had dealt with reconstruction work, especially in the areas devastated by earthquake. It is evident how much harm is done by the rapid closing down of so important an authority. Certain financial journals,· on the other hand, have expressed readiness to see a private speculative company set up in its place; a company in which a leading part would be played by certain friends of members of the Government. Cession of Waterway. Under decree No. 696, of March 8, 1923, the State canals of the Novarese and Lomellina were leased to a local Joint Stock Company. Life Assurance. Decrees Nos. 1638, November 16, 1922, and 966, April 29, 1923, prolonged the right of private Life Assurance Companies (including those in ,vhich the capital was not wholly in Italian hands) to carry on business ; although such business was to have passed into the hands of the State last year. State Supplies. (a) Th.e Ministerial Decree of January 13, 1923, which has not yet been published, and has already been once rejected by the Corte dei Conti as irregular, granted 28,835,996 lire to the 28 Biblioteca Gino Bianco
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