RUSSIA'S SHORT HARVEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 79, 5 April 1926, Page 4

RUSSIA'S SHORT HARVEST.

CUBRENCY IN DANGER.

An unfavourable trade balance, consequent npon a amalter grain yield than *a?a3 anticipated, resulted in draatic changes in the -arcole export and import programme of the United States of Soviet Etmia for 1925. According to the Riga correspondent of tha " Timez," preliminary calneulations led the authorities to expect that the State would have at ita disposal gome 10/j(jOfiO() tons of grain, whereas, by December 1, the amount gathered only totalled about CO per cent of v/hat was expected for that period, and the rate of flow into the State granaries was rapidly declining. Official reports, however, put the total proceeds from tlii3 source down at £900,000,000, or 71 per cent of thoa« of 1913. In industry there was a tendency towards expansion, especially at the beginning of the year. The totai outputs of State industry, concessions, I and private industry was'officially stated'| to be £500.000,000, or 71 per "cent of production in 1913. The proportions of State and private industry were given as 79.3 and 20.7 respectively, a small decrease in the latter. Industrial ■workers now number about 1,700,000. But Soviet industry, the correspondent asserts, cannot even approximately satisfy the requirements of the people, and a general scarcity of goods, especially textiles, and technical equipment, was chronic throughout 1925. Prices were consequently on a continually upward gradient, especially in the retail market, which is not so easily controlled by tho Government. In spite of tho fact that grain prices have also risen, many articles are beyond the reach of the peasants. Drastic measures to stem the rising tide have had meagre results, as the fundamental fact remains that demand is far greater than supply. It is claimed that the home trade last year reached 70 per cent of the pre-war level, the turnover being calculated at about £1,400,000,000, an increase of 20 per cent over 1924. The share of State enterprises is officially given as 50 per cent, co-operative 25 per ceut, and private 25 per cent.