TRADE ORGANIZATION IN ITALY Chambers of Commerce.—The Italian chambers of com merce which were regulated by the law of 1862 and performed functions similar to those of the French chambers of commerce, were replaced by Laws Nos. of April 18, 1926, and Nos. 1363/1071 of June 16, 1927, which set up in their place economic provincial councils, "Consigli Provinciali dell' Econ omia." These councils which commenced their functions as from Dec. 1, 1927, are consultative bodies of the State and local admin istrations as well as organs for decentralization and for the local execution of Government policy. They are under the general control of the minister of national economy at Rome. They formulate proposals for economic development in their province (including agricultural and technical education). They compile and review commercial usages and exercise a general supervision over public institutions concerned with economic matters.
They administer the commercial bourses, and through a board which is established in the chief town of the province exercise specific administrative or executive functions in regard to the following matters :—(a) representation of the minister of national economy in actions for fraud in trade; (b) the laws relating to factory plans and trade marks; (c) the registration and winding up of companies; (d) the issue of certificates of origin and identity papers for commercial travellers; (e) the compilation of bulle tins and lists of prices as required under article 38 of the Italian commercial code.
These councils consist of not less than I2 and not more than 28 members, some of whom are ex officio members representing Government and public institutions, and others are appointed by the minister of national economy or by royal decree to represent economic associations and institutes of agriculture, manufac turers, traders and employees. The chairman is the prefect of the province. All industrial and commercial firms have to register with the economic provincial council and the funds of these bodies are derived from charges on the income of these firms and taxes on land and buildings and social insurance premiums.
which is controlled and financed by the Italian Government but not a part of the regular Italian civil service, consists of a chair man chosen by the ministers for national economy and foreign affairs, and a general council containing representatives of Gov ernment departments, Fascist corporations, commercial and in dustrial bodies and other economic and financial institutions. There is also a technical committee appointed by the general council and consisting of 8 of its members. The function of the institute is to develop export trade, to collect and distribute commercial intelligence and to undertake propaganda work abroad. It also arranges for Italian participation in foreign exhibitions and fairs, and assists in the obtaining of credits and proper transport facilities for export trade; in addition it sees to the juridical pro tection of Italian exporters abroad. It receives a Government con tribution of 4,000,000 lire per annum. It replaces the commercial information bureau and Bulletin of commercial information which had been set up by royal decree No. 2125 of Sept. 6, 1923.