Conditions in Russia

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20088, 7 November 1939, Page 14

Conditions in Russia

Sir.—ln regard to that paradise in Bolshevik Russia. I have read a number of books, both fiction and nonfiction. some of the latter by American correspondents and others by people who had the courage to live with people and travel third and, fourth class in the interior to see for themselves what conditions really were, and not as pampered guests in the guise of representatives of trade unions, who were shown all the showplaces, such as hospitals and creches, wined and dined at the best hotels, and never allowed to go scouting on their own. this all being done while the worker was standing in a line in the hope of obtaining a bite of bread. Although I may be wrong. I am of the opinion that the British working man, in spite of low wages and bad conditions in some cases, is in a far superior position to his confrere in the Bol.siii Heaven.

One book was written by a man who went to Prussia inoculated with the “Red germ” and left wondering whether there was not more than a tly in the Stalin ointment. One thing amongst many others I would like to understand is why were 2,000.000 people allowed to starve to death in one year? This in a grain-growing country. Also, would this happen in capitalistic England?

Also, in the land of equality there are two classes already in evidence, one comprised of Government officials, heads of factories, aptly described as lice, who feed at the best- hotels, enjoying all the luxuries of life at the expense of the poor deluded worker, whose lot is not much better than it was under the Czars; at least, then he had plenty of food and could look at the scenery instead of getting an eyefid of Stalin, to say nothing of being bored stiff by Red propaganda. Of course the argument is that he was oppressed and conscripted in the bad old days, but are conditions much changed, since he is called up to oppress others, viz., the Poles and probably the Finns at the present moment, which will rank as one of the most disreputable and despicable episodes in historv? CURIOUS.