NOW THE RUSSIAN LIVES

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1927, Page 4

NOW THE RUSSIAN LIVES

By Ciipt. If. C. Smart., who recently spent some weeks in Russia and in Siberia).

A handful of honest theorists, si few fanatics, and a greater number of opportunists—Slav, Asiatic or Jew—make up the organisation that to-day rules the Cuitcd Soviet Socialist Republics, with a population of 115.000.01)0. And those few autocrats rule with an iron hand. Recently I witnessed an election. There is only one way to vote in this land of Proletariate—vote Communist or stay away from ti poll. “Never mind about the other 100.000,030 odd of our countrymen who do not want Communism; wo know what is good for them,” quite frankly say these fanatics.

Streamers across the streets of Me* row call the citizens—“citizen” is the word now, not “comrade”— to “vole Communist and complete the great work”.

Most of the offices dosed for a halfday to give these “free” people an opportunity to vote. And away they marched in hatches to record their votes. Of enthusiasm or excitement there was none.

The Red leaders promise the workers Ftopia. But the Utopia of the Slav-Asiatic-Jew Communist is very far short of what the Anglo-Saxon working man has in mind. Good wages, decent and clean conditions of living, and healthy sport are things of which the Russian Communist only has a vague idea. Moscow, after nearly nine years ot Communism, is neither prosperous nor happy. It is improving and will continue to improve , but this will he in spite of Bolshevism. This improvement is only comparative. All business activities are run by the kSoviet Government or under some form of Government control. The other day I saw queues numbering from 200 to 300 awaiting admission to the Government cotton and cloth goods shops. Tn these shops goods cost from 70 per cent, to 80, per cent, higher than in England. In the largest Moscow departmental store—seized from an English firm by the Communists— the tired citizens were not refreshing themselves with dainty tea or lunch ; they were standing up eating dry bread.

The people one meets in the streets, in the shops, in the theatres, everywhere. are miserable, care-worn, unhealthy, and shabbily dressed. How could it lie otherwise? This great country ruled by the so-called Proletariate, pays its workers to-day in Moscow from £7 to £lO per month, not per weelc. The cost of living in Moscow is 75 per cent higher than in England. 1 have priced their goods. British workers. particularly housewives, will know what this means. I have visited factories where the workers receive £7 to £8 per month for a 'l6-hours week, which is the usual time for manual workers. Housing is difficult all the world | over. In every village that I have seen the dwellings are hovels. Not than 75,000,000 peasants live in hovels. In Moscow the average, number of

people living in one room is three. 1 have seen as many as five. The discomfort, misery, and immorality caused by such conditions can be imagined. I visited one of the courts of justice, where the majority of the cases were squabbles arising from this overcrowding. The Communists show with great pride schemes for the erection of new dwellings. 1 have seen no evidence of them, though I did see a very fine central Post Office in the course of erection. The position is made worse by the influx of peasants to Moscow to participate in all the good things which Communism promises them. Without exception public buildings and dwellings are in a bad state ol repair.