CHANGES IN RUSSIA

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27986, 5 June 1956, Page 11

CHANGES IN RUSSIA

Decentralisation Of Ministries

(Rec. 8 p.m.) MOSCOW, June 3. Russia’s central government has handed over the functions of several of its ministries to various autonomous Soviet Republics in a big decentralisation plan Several Soviet Union ministries have been abolished to make way for the transfer of authority—among them the Ministry of Justice—and others have been merged or reorganised under a new title. The official Soviet news agency. Tass. announcing the changes, said that they had been made possible by the economic development of the autonomous republics which made up the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The availablity of experienced managerial, engineering, and technical staffs had also helped to prepare the ground for the change which was decided on by the Soviet Union’s Supreme Presidium.

Tass said that the changes would tend to more efficient industrial management, the better use of available reserves, and ‘‘a fuller satisfaction of national economic requirements.”

The latest changeover to a separate Republican administration affected th* 3 Ministries of Foodstuffs. Meat and Dairy Products, Fishing Industry. Procurements Light Industry. Buildins Materials, Paper and Woodworking Motor Transoort and Highways Inland Waterways, Health. Retail Trade, and Catering.

Other changes included the merging of the Soviet Ministry of Light Industries with the Ministry of the Textile Industry to make the Ministry of Light Industry of the Soviet Union

Tass said that a legal commission would be set up under the Soviet Council of Ministers to codify and systematise the Soviet legislation. ‘‘Drive for Efficiency”

The plan for administrative decentralisation is seen by observers in Moscow as part of a current drive to improve efficiency and reduce bureaucracy.

Ultimate control will continue to remain with the Central Government in Moscow, but the reorganisation of a number of departments—concurrently with the abolition of the Federal Justice Ministry—will give wider powers to the 16 constituent republics.

The duties of the Ministry of Justice will be transferred to the Justice authorities of the republics concerned

Powers affecting other industries will be similarly transferred, although in some cases a single Ministry dealing

with Republican affairs will administer them. The announcement by the Communis* Party’s Central Committee and the Council of Ministers (the Cabinet) said the Federal Justice Ministry was to be abolished with a view to endinc unnecessary centralisation and nf in creasing the role of the union republics in the administration of justice

Another new measure is the establishment of a legal commission as an organ of the Government to simplif.s legislative procedure.