SOVIET SET-BACK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 13, 26 October 1932, Page 5

SOVIET SET-BACK.

SHORTAGE IN WHEAT HARVEST. NO COLLECTION FROM PEASANTS United Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 24. The Riga correspondent of "The Times" says that the Soviet Government has announced that it has received yet another set-back to its plans in connection with the Russian wheat harvest.

During the past three weeks, the most important of the whole campaign, Government agents have collected less than half the stipulated quantities of wheat, and the pace is slackening daily. The failure is due to disorder in the central organisation and to the reluctance of local authorities to give the necessary support. Even the Soviet's own officials are siding against the Government, especially in the Black Sea region, where officials have been waylaying caravans and compelling the peasants to deliver grain for local purposes. The Press declares that the difficulties are increased by disorganisation on the railways, there being thousands of tons of grain awaiting transport, and perishing in the open air.

This vear has seen a serious failure of all crops in Russia. The Government thereupon issued a decree ordering peasants to deliver all their produce to the Government for distribution. The enforcement of the order has been so much evaded that the death penalty has been inflicted in a large number of cases. Famine con : dltious rule in many parts of the country.