CAPITALISM IN RUSSIA

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13063, 4 February 1943, Page 8

CAPITALISM IN RUSSIA

OUTSTANDING IN THE WORLD Study of Soviet System Suggested Mr Doidge's Proposal Russia was the outstanding capitalist country in the world, declared Mr F. W. Doidge, M.P. for Tauranga, speaking in the Civic Theatre, Christchurch, at a National Party by-election meeting. Realising the menace of Hitler, Stalin had gone to the Russian people for a loan of 4,000,000,000 roubles, the greatest loan ever raised to that time. That money was for war purposes and was as much as France and Britain together were spending on preparations for war. Stalin, moreover, paid 4 per cent, in interest. Mr Fraser would only give 25 per cent. The reason for Russia's strength was that Stalin, realising that he would have to meet Hitler in war, and that under Communism the sluggard set the pace, abandoned Communism and went over to capitalism. The profit-making motive impregnated every phase of activity in Russia to-day.

The strength of Russia- and the richness of her resources formed a well-preserved secret, but the secret was made , known to some people. President Roosevelt knew of it. "I am going to. suggest to Mr Fraser that the time has arrived to send a delegation from New Zealand to Russia to study the capitalist system in operation," declared Mr Doidge amid laughter. "I am going to suggest that the two members should be Frank Langstone and Walter Nash."