GRAIN AND IRON

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 35, 5 November 1928, Page 11

GRAIN AND IRON

RUSSIA’S ECONOMIC TROUBLES

REVIVAL OF TERRORISM ADVOCATED

FIGHTS BETWEEN OFFICIALS AND PEASANTS

The seriousness of the economic situation in Russia is illustrated in two messages published this morning. One refers to the difficulties being experienced by the Soviet’s grain commissars in securing supplies, and the other to the seriousness of the metal famine.

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) (Rec. November 4, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 3. Tlie Moscow correspondent of the “Daily Mail” states that daily there are fights between Soviet grain commissars, who are endeavouring to obtain supplies, necessitating special police separating them. Grain previously sold to official buyers was snatched forcibly by different officials. Grain was taken from peasants who had already sold it to the Government. The “Pravda” advocates a revival of terrorism to secure grain if the peasants refuse to sell. Between August 15 and September 15 twenty-four peasants were fatally shot, and thirty-three officials were posted as missing. SERIOUS METAL FAMINE APPEAL FOR COLLECTIONS OF OLD IRON (“Times" Cables.) (Rec. November 4, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 3. The Riga correspondent of “The Times” states that the Soviet’s Supreme Economic Council has appealed to all Soviet organisations and private persons to use greater efforts to collect old iron. A public announcement declares that the seriousness of the metal famine has not been realised. The production of the Soviet blast furnaces is over 20 per cent, below the pre-war output. Nine hundred thousand tons of old iron must be gathered, of which the railways and shipping should yield one-third. The railways have been ordered to give it precedence to all other freights.

SOVIET SYSTEM DRIFTING TO AN END

TROTSKY’S PREDICTION (“Times” Cables.) Berlin, November 2. Under tlie present regime Boleshevism is hurriedly drifting to its end, declares Trotsky in a book which lie lias managed clandestinely to publish. The Soviet ordered the confiscation of the book and arrest of the publishers, but Trotsky’s supporters managed to smuggle a copy to Germany, where it will shortly be published. Trotsky asserts that tlie rule of revolutionary workers has degenerated into a bureaucratic system, throttling all industrial initiative. He describes official departments as juggling with statistics in order to present a cheerful picture of conditions which are really of the blackest.