PITIFUL STORY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1932, Page 5

PITIFUL STORY

WORKERS IN RUSSIAN PORTS

DRESSED IN RAGS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, 24th January.

Kemarkable stories of conditions in Russian ports wore related in Sydney by the officers and crew of the Norwegian motor-ship Eli, which arrived from Odessa, in ballast, after taking a cargo of Russian wheat to Indian ports. They said that tho condition of Russian workers was pitiable, and although many of them had visited Russian ports regularly during, tho last twelve years, no improvement was apparent even though tho Soviet leaders made a groat deal of the far-famed Five Year Plan. That plan had resulted in a great increase in tho export trade, but was carried out at the expense of tho Russians, who were deprived of food and clothing. "While in Eussian ports many members of the crew of the Eli sold all their spare clothing, as the Russians had only rags to cover themselves against the severity of the winter. Air. Jacob Gundcrsen, second officer, said that the people had reached the lowest level of wretchedness. No other civilised people would wear the clothing and eat the food that was rationed out to the Russians. For years they had believed the words of their leatlors that conditions would improve after a short, pqriqd. of adversity. There was no sign of that improvement yet, and the workers had begun to murmur. They all expected a. change, and were not such staunch Communists as the officials believed. Mr. Gundersen said that when he talked alone with the workers they told him that conditions had never been so bad. However, as soon as tho worker was joined by a party of his friends they all commended Communism. In a group they professed loyalty to the Government, but individually almost every man was against it. It .was hardly necessary to leave the Eli to see how matters stood. While the ship loaded at Odessa squids of men and women were drafted to perform the work. Soldiers were placed over them to prevent shirking. None of the workers were adequately clothed. Some of the ■women had no boots, and their legs had bits of rags round them as a covering. They worked as hard as tho men and were given many additional duties such as sweeping the decks and repairing the bags. All the time the wharf was overrun with children. Children were put to work when they reached the age of 13 ymrs. SUPERVISED BY SOLDIERS. Every action of tho workers was supervised by the soldiers, whose wellfed appearance and warm uniforms contrasted with the general poverty to be seen on all sides. As the men and ■women filed down the gangway from the ship they were searched. Cases of extreme severity as warnings against stealing, such as shooting the offenders, were discussed, but no instance of that occurred while the Eli was in port. Building seemed to be at a standstill. There were no tiew houses, but great buildings designed like barracks in which the workers lived. Each family was allowed a flat of two rooms. Mr. Ansgar Milsen, chief steward, said he had visited Russia six times. Transactions between the seamen and the townspeople were baired. Members of the crew were not permitted to handle any Russian money, and from time to time many seamen had been imprisoned by the authorities when Russian notes were found in their possession. However, the Russians wore so eager to obtain clothing that they j dared to break the regulations. Boots

were in special request. A pair could bo sold for about £1 on the gold basis, but, as one gold rouble was worth about 30 paper roubles, the townspeople had to pay 250 roubles for them. Russia was a country of contrasts. The workers and peasants were overworked and almost destitute, but the officials and soldiers were comfortable and powerful. Most of the young men had joined tho army to secure the improved conditions. The army had the same status as tho professions had in Western Europe. The officials and soldiers had comparative freedom, while the labourers and seamen wore not allowed to leave their ship.