everywhere to close down the non-Fascist Cooperatives. Ev~n the great Co-operative Union of Milan and Co-operative Alliance of Turin, etc., have had to submit to Government intervention. The conditions imposed for allowing the Co-operatives of Reggio to continue to exist included_ this : ''The managers shall be replaced by men approved by the Prime Minister." (Stefani news agency, August 15, 1923.) At Turin the Prefect appointed, by decree, as administrators of the Workers' General Association, individuals not belonging to the Association ; and he required the palaz~o sociale ( club buildings) of the ·Association to be sold within a year. To legalise all the arbitrary Government interference in workers' organisations and co-operatives, especially those of Molinella (see Part V.) , the Government announced at the beginning of October, 1923, a decree to give the political authorities control of Societa -di fatto (societies engaged in ··practical work). But the announcement of this enormity has as yet had no further sequel. On the other hand, the Fascist Co-operatives are demanding from the State privileges which. the others did not have, namely: "reservation of part of the qovernment contracts at the approved or higher rates ; assjstance to cover the deficit on the Consumers' Cooperative Societies; authori~y to use deposits as security,'' etc. (.Meeting of Fascist Co-operatives, September 30, 1923.) The destruction of free Co-operation has fulfilled one of the dearest dreams of private shopkeepers and speculators, and· has removed one of the most efficacious checks on rising prices. Abolition of Labour Day. In decree No. 933 of April 19, 1923, the Fascist Government declared that "the holiday on May I is suppressed, and all the agreements enter~d into between employers and workers for a day's 35 Biblioteca Gino Bianco J
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