PITIFUL CONDITIONS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 235, 26 May 1932, Page 6

PITIFUL CONDITIONS

RUSSIAN PEASANTS NOW SIMMERING WITH DISCONTENT. PRACTICALLY STARVING. Pitiful conditions in what was once one of the most prosperous provinces of Russia, and where the pe'asants are now practically starving, are de§crihed in a letter received by a Sydney man from his Russian parents, who are living in the town of Ternovca, in the Ukraine. The recipient of the letter gave his name, but asked that it should not he published, as he feared reprisais against his parents Podolia, the province in which Ternoyca is situated, was once 'one of the richest parts of the Ukraine, possessing a good climate, and splendid black soil. Most of the inhabitants were engaged in mixed farming. Now, the people are forced to sell their wheat to the Government agents, and are left with nothing for themselves or for the live stock on their farms. As a result, cattle are dying out, and neighbours are ready to give their live stock to anyone who is able to feed it Deserting Towns. Hoping to eke out a better existence, the people are gradually deserting the towns for the cities, while thosie left behind are forced to wait for hours in the queues at the Government co-operative stores for the meagre rations, consisting mainly of salted herring, which are doled out in these places. The fortnightly bazaar day, which is the custom in all Russian towns, was still held in Ternovca, the letter stated, but lacked the atmosphere of prosperous activity which characterised it before the revolution. Nowadays the town was merely visited by a Communist agent, who purchased all the commodities brought to the town by the peasants, at a low price fixed by the Soviet. The money received in return for their produce is practically valueless to the peasants, for they can purchase nothing of any use with it The letter concluded hy stating that vthe people were simmering with discontent. Discontent had been brought about hy their own miserajble existence, and by the apparent luxury in which the-army and Communist officials were living. The only thing which prevented retaliatory action was the peasants' fear of being arraigned as traitors and shot.