RUSSIA TODAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 November 1939, Page 7

RUSSIA TODAY

WOMEN WORK AS EQUALS

TO MEN

COUNTRY HAS LONG WAY TO GO YET.

IMPRESSTONS OF UNION SECRETARY.

"Russia has a long way to go yet. In some directions she is ahead of us: in others she is far behind. But compared with the old standard, her present standard of living is greatly improved." This was the summary of his impressions given by Mr J. Roberts, secretary of the Canterbury Tailoring Trades Union, in an interview on his return from abroad. Mr Roberts represented New Zealand trades union interests at the recent conference of the International Labour Office in Geneva. His incidental tour of Europe included a visit of three weeks to Russia.

At the outset. Mr Roberts emphasised that while the League of Nations, in the existing circumstances, might have faded into the background, the International Labour Office, one of the adjuncts of the League, was gaining in importance. The complete machinery of the Labour organisation was being retained and it had been definitely decided that the International Labour Office should continue its functions during the war. It was doubtful whether the annual conferences would be held, but the wide functions of the office would be maintained. All nations appeared anxious to see the continuance of the valuable work the International Labour Office was doing, Mr Roberts said. PEOPLE SHABBY. “I must say that my first impression of Russia was not altogether favourable,” Mr Roberts said. "We approached Russia through the Baltic, and arrived at Leningrad. Russian people struck me at first as being shabby—that was my general first impression of the whole country. I cannot think of any other word to express my views. The clothing of the people seemed of an inferior type. But we were immediately impressed with the physique of the people, particularly the Russian women. We were also surprised to see so many young chil-, dren about. We were told that the population of Russia was increasing by 3,000,000 a year. The mothers of Russia are encouraged to increase their families and mothers are given special consideration. At first we were startled and somewhat shocked to see so many women at heavy work. We saw them laying tram-rails and working side by side with the men. But our surprise was offset when we heard that the women of Russia had done heavy work for centuries, and that they received the same pay as men. The women appeared to look on their work as a right. But, being British, it took us some time to get used to the way women took part in the labour of the country. BABIES AT FACTORIES. "In some ways the Russian factories are remarkable,” Mr Roberts said. "I saw between 40 and 50 babies being looked after in a factory creche. They were in a sun-room and were being looked after by nurses. The children were those cf married women working in the factory. Incidentally, the mothers feeding their babies from the breast were asked to work only six hours a day, compared with seven for the others. I spent three hours in a clothing factory and saw in operation, and had evidence of, an interesting procedure that we could well adopt here —all operatives had a five-minute break every hour. This applies to all factories. But the operatives did not seem to work any harder than those in New Zealand. In fact. I. think we work harder and our machinery is more efficient. We were told that there was still a shortage of skilled workers in Russia Women certainly play a great part in the development of their country; far more in Russia than in any other country.”

Mr Roberts emphasised that while women in Russia worked in ordinary occupations, they also played their part in higher administrative duties. He saw women driving tram-cars; but at the same time saw two women associated with the president of a court equivalent to the Magistrates’ Courts in New Zealand; saw a young woman doctor officiating at a holiday camp for children, and saw women in charge of other important administrative posts. SWEDEN’S POSITION. “But I feel that the greatest country of all those we visited was Sweden." Mr Roberts said. “Physically and from the point of view of politics (although 1 do not say this for any political reason), Sweden seems to approach nearest to our own country." Their standard of life is high. There are fine working-class buildings everywhere. The people seem perfect physical specimens. The freedom of the country from war. freedom from a crushinggburden of debt, and the actions of a munificent and wise government, seem to have contributed to Sweden’s happiness. Crime has declined to the extent that I heard it said that there were more prison officials than prisoners. The Swedish cities have the best blocks of workers’ flats in the world.” Mr Roberts had an eventful voyage out to New Zealand from England. Before the departure of his vessel (a luxury liner) from Tilbury, the captain called the passengers together and emphasised the perilous nature of the voyage, in view of war conditions. The captain told the passengers that many of the usual privileges would be curtailed (many were cut out completely). Volunteers were asked for. for an additional submarine watch. Thirty men volunteered. The captain also told the passengers that the vessel might have a convoy, and it might not. Two or

three passengers left the boat after that announcement. Their fears were justified, for there was no convoy, the speed of the vessel being relied on to elude submarines, which, submerged. travel at a far lower speed than that of the ordinary ocean liner. On the third day out a submarine was sighted. It came up parallel with the liner. 600 yards on the port side. The feeling was that the submarine came up. not knowing the liner was there. But the submarine submerged. However. by the time the submarine had submerged and got into position (Mr Roberts said), the liner had changed its course and put on full speed. With the liner travelling at more than 20 knots and “zig-zagging," nothing more was seen of the submarine.