MODERN RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXXIIi, Issue 25302, 30 September 1947, Page 5

MODERN RUSSIA

LIFE OF THE PEOPLE DISCUSSED ADDRESS TO BUSINESSMEN’S CLUB “Communism, as it is practised in Russia, is not compatible with the freedom of the individual. It is the system of unfettered dictatorial rule by force, and the doctrine of the minority,” said Mr R. R. Livingstone, formerly chief administrative officer for in Byelorussia, addressing a luncheon meeting of the Christchurch Businessmen’s.Club, yesterday. Mr Livingstone summarised his address on aspects of the social economy of Russia with a warning' against the dangers of Communism, even in ostensibly non-Communistic countries such as New Zealand. “You would be surprised, I think,” he said, “at the number of intelligent people in our midst who are becoming the unwitting tools of Communism. These people are following the beliefs of countries which G S Jje, ct neit her property, man. life, nor

Mr Livingstone pointed out that the emblem of Soviet Russia was not merely the hammer and sickle against a blood-red background, but the hammer and sickle against a map of the world; indicative of the Russian ambition of a Communist-dominated world. He had found during his time in Russia that the Communist system meant the negation of much that labouring people in British countries had fought for. There was complete State control throughout Russia, and. with it, insecurity and much inefficiency through Government centralisation. Everyone was an informer for the State, and personal dis--1 yalty was rife. , “The Russian people I found to be kind yet obstinate, friendly but afraid, happy, as most peasant peoples are. but fired with an ambition,” said Mr Livingstone. “For the inefficient, the political opponent, is no room in Russia. Payment of labour is by results under the most exacting conditions. Generals, professional men. and actors, however, are considered very rich, and are privileged classes, while the unskilled labourer is desperately poor.” It was on the basis of output for the Stete that all classes were remunerated.

There was no advertising, except that for theatre, opera, or politics, and the only offices in the big cities of Russia were Government ones. Commission trading was unknown, except in special shops, where war loot could be disposed of or bought on a commission basis. The Russian newspapers carried no advertising, and were composed largely of political speeches, self-criticism, and laudatory statements concerning the' outputs of certain factories. The only paper which was free from censorship was a British Embassy publication called the “British Ally,” which was populsr. and. although cited as having a circulation of only 5000. was read by about 5.000.000 persons. Poverty of the Worker On one occasion, said Mr Livingstone, he and his interpreter stopped a peasant farmer who was passing his establishment and engaged him in conversation. The man v» as about 35, and his ragged coat covered a miscellany of tattered garments. His legs and feet were covered in flax—he had no boots —and leather thongs served as footwear. The farmer had just purchased a cow for 7000 roubles (£750), and was walking 25 miles home with the beast. His house consisted of a dugout, since war damage had razed his home. In a better area, said Mr Livingstone, a farmer would probably share a house with one or more families and would work a co-operative farm. He would live on black bread, some tea without sugar or milk, very little meat, and perhaps some vodka. It was common enough in Russia to see factory workers and others going to work with their boots carried on their heads. The Russian worker could not afford to pay for new boots, even if he could get them, and there was a constant vigilance against wearing the only pair of boots out. The workers lived in huge blocks of flats which, to New Zealand standards, were unhygienic. The flats were b?dly lit, possessed little sanitation, and the inhabitants worked six days a week, doing their shopping on Sundays. Bonuses were paid for over-production, but the worker who produced less than his required amount was liable to be penalised by short pay, or. wh?t was worse, reduced rations. The factories, like the workers’ flats, were badly lit and poorly ventilated. In the scale of workers, clerks were at the bottom of the ladder, said Mr Livingstone. The hours of work for a clerk u ere very long, most ol them starting at 10 a.m end finishing sometime the following morning. Rich persons in Russia were very well off. compared with the workers and the poor, although there was little evidence of wealth in the clothes that the rich wore. The rich were privileged. having special shops to buy their goods at and special discount prices to pay. “Having a car in Russia seems to entitle you to run down any one who has not.” said Mr lavingstone. He told how his chauffeur seemed to deem it a right to drive to the danger of life and limb, and how. v hen he had knocked a man from his bicycle, a policeman roundly abused the victim of the Eccident for getting in the way of a government vehicle.