RUSSIA.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 January 1919, Page 5

RUSSIA.

OPERATIONS OF BOLSHEVISM ——oAN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF ITS ACTIVITIES. Received 5.45 a.m. LONDON, January 22. The Manchester Guardians’ corrcs- | pendent who was engaged on the Friends’ Relief Mission in Russia in 1917 and 1918, gives ran interesting review of the economic conditions in Rural Russia under Bolshevism. He saws: The co-operative socieffib? have now secured a virtual monopoly of trading, and are putting small traders out of business. The societies get credit from the Soviet, and are regarded by the railways as a government department. The profits are rod nued to a minimum, and devoted to education, including classes in modern languages, history and bookkeeping. The Bolsheviks commenced with ambitious "' educational programme aimed at establishing a school in (every village. The project was abandoned owing to lack of teachers. Instead the Bolsheviks started training colleges for touchers financing the colleges. The immense enthusiasm- for education was a great Bolshevik asset. The boy scout movement is also flourishing. The Soviets control most of the factories and forests. Bolshevik leaders for a time gave the Soviets control of tho local sections of railways, but the scheme soon failed, complete disorganisation following and national control was resumed. Regarding the ownership of land, there is a difference of opinion. j?dlshcvik leaders desire to manage la“ge estates through their own experts, but the peasants d« not desire nationalisation but village ownership. The B’olsheviks have secured taxes by capital Bevies, from which none lire exempt, and are commanding stores and selling ■them at high prices. Justice was Secured by the election of older men as magistrates. Guards sometimes overrode 'magistrates, but on the whole there were raoro reliable law courts and justice than the police administration of the old regime, and no blackmailing in connection with illicit vodka stills. The Bolsheviks simply confiscated the still and deprived the maker of supplies of grain.

FIGHTING IN THE NORTH,

Received 9.5 a.m

NEW YORK, aJcuary 23

A message dated January 23rd, 12.30 a.m., from Archangel, states the Bolshevists are heavily shelling the American and Russian armies in the TJspodenga region.