Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 9th, 1920. BOLSHEVISM AND BUSINESS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 9th, 1920. BOLSHEVISM AND BUSINESS.

The Russian Almanac, which now makes its appearance for the first time, has been ably put together by Miss N. Peacock, editor of the Russian Year Book. The latter has been suspended since 1917, and the present publication

i s intended, says a 'London commercial journal, to fill the gap until Russia enters upon smoother waters. Naturally the facts and statistics presented re. late very largely to the pre-war period and to the earlier years of the war. A great deal of useful information is included on the subject of “Present Governments,” “The Economic Position,” “Natural Resources,” “Ways and Communications,” iand “Einance.” In a prefatorial note the editor asys that the present publication is intended to show that English men of business are not indifferent to the state of affairs in Russia—that our Ally has a right to expect sympathy and support from us in spite of the troubles which have made her incapable for the time of fulfilling her normal obligations. With regard to commerce and industry under the Bolsheviks. Mr Rastorgoueff, barrister-at-law, remarks that the legislation concerning commerce and indutsry is very extensive, the tendency being, as might be surmised, towards the elimination of private interest by nationalising certain branches creating mopopolies in others and es-

tablishing control over the remainder. Foreign trade, both export and 'mport, is nationalised (Decree of April 22nd., 1919). Allj transactions with pr /ate persons or firms relatin'; to the sale |or purchase of goods abroad are forbidden. Foreign firms can buy Russian goods only through a Government department specially created for that purpose at the Commissariat for Commerce, and can sell their goods only to agents authorised by the Government As regards home trade and industry, such important branches as the mercantile marine, railways, transport, and various industrial concerns are nationalised. The sale of food-stuffs, cloth, various minerals, agricultural machin-

ery, etc., is a State monopoly. The hanking business is nationalised, all private banks being merged into the State bank, and their share capital con fiscated. Those branches of trade and industry which are still in private hands are controlled by various committees. Tn towns, committees for the control of prices, consisting of shopkeepers, their assistants and accountants, have been formed. They inspect tradesmen’s books, define expenses, fix average prices and profits, and distribute the latter among the shopkeepers. They also control the purchase of goods, and have the right to purchase goods themselves on account of tradesmen.

Commercial and, incjiftsrtal concerns which employ labour are controlled by the workers through their elected councils. Control is exercised over production, the purchase and sale of products and raw materials and their preservation, and also over the financial management of the concerns. Proprietors are obliged to produce to the Council all hooks, reports and correspondence for inspection. Commercial secrecy is annulled. Various laws have been passed in the interest of working people such as the eight hour day, insur. ance, endowment of motherhood, safeguarding the interests of minors, etc. It is intended to introduce in the near future universal industrial conscription Tlie chaotic state of Russian affairs has rendered the work of compilation a difficult task, and we are invited to consider the results as more in the nature of a temporary contribution than as a complete statement of permanent facts concerning the country Generally one gets an idea rather of what Russia was than what she is. It is suggested, however, that the latest

official figures obtainable even though they may be no longer applicable to the present situation in Russia, may no valuable a,s a ground for calculation as to the future, and this may be true if we keep constantly in mind the fact that we are dealing with a number < f diverse authorities and not with the old Russian Kin pi re of approximately 81 million square miles. Perhaps, in the next issue of the almanac, the editor may be able to extend to that part already referred to which deals with Bolshevik Russia. This : n a very limited way affords something in the

nature of a peep behind the scenes Many people have still very hazy notions of the meaning of Bolshevism.

According to Mr Rastorgoueff (cited .above), the constructive idea of Bolshevism is that ‘of creating a Government in the interests of one class only

i.e., that of the labouring masses. The idea is thus expressed in paragraph 10 of the Constitution: “The Russian Republic is a free Socialist Community of all those who toil in Russia. Ail power within the boundaries of the . R.S.F.S.R., ’(Russian Socialist Fede. ral Soviet Republic) belongs to the labouring population of tile country organised in town and communal Soviets,” and in paragraph 18, which reads, “The R.S.F.R., considers labour to be the duty of every citizen of the Republic,. and its watchword is, “He who does not work .shall not eat.’’ With regard to finance it it admitted that prevailing conditions in Russia render it impossible to compile complete and up-to-date financial statistics. Brought into a small focus, the situation is similar to that of a community suffering from a devastating fire, the amount of irreparable damage and the proportion of it covered bv insurance being at present unknown. But it is claimed that the essentials to an . ultimate revival of prosperity remain Russia being he richest country in (Europe in population, agricultural area, mineral resources' and forest wealth. When political conditions per- * mit an assessment of values with a view to restoration and reconstruction, calculations must be based upon the economics and statistics of the years immediately preceding the political up- ! h-eaval. Jji ;the meantime, the section on the subject of debt repudiation is illuminating. Paragraph 3 of the decree by'"the Central Committee of

the Soviets, annulling the State debts of Russia, provides that all loans made from abroad are cancelled without exception and' unconditionally. Paragraph'9 states that the Soviet of the Workmen's, Soldiers’, and Peasants’ Deputies, in accord with local economic councils, will form committees for the purpose of deciding whether a citizen is to be classed as “indigent.’’ These committees will be competent to cancel entirely all savings acquired without working for them, even in the case of sums below 5,000 roubles. The careful perusal of this work suggests that a good deal of water must flow under the bridges ore Russia can recover from the present fever. The quotations already given will serve to indicate the kind of freedom which is implied by Bolshevism in the country of its adoption.