RUSSIAN PARTY LEADERS.

Evening Star, Issue 19764, 14 January 1928, Page 6

RUSSIAN PARTY LEADERS.

For some time it has been evident that the Communist leaders in Moscow have not been a happy family. Under the strong hand of Lenin party discipline was well maintained, but the same allegiance is not given to Stalin. The disappointed Trotsky has been a disturbing factor, and he has had backing from some of the best-known of the political loaders. Resentment at their criticisms of the methods of the administration was followed by the intimation a few days ago that they had been deprived of their official posts. Later it was announced that fifty-two of the Oppositionists had been ordered to be banished for three years, and that some bad been deported to the Siberian wilderness or the cholera areas. According to reports, this act was a sequel to the Soviet’s unsuccessful campaign to restore discipline in the factories where the seeds of dissatisfaction had fallen on fertile soil. The political police wanted to imprison the offending leaders, but to apply the rigorous methods of the early days of the Soviet did not commend itself to Stalin. In the case of Trotsky, certainly, it would have been a dangerous proceeding, for he is a popular figure with the masses. His daring and eloquence in the early period of the revolution captured their imagination. In the days of the Kerensky Government ho defied the orders of the authorities, and was sent to gaol, to emerge at a time of groat opportunity. To-day ho is adopting the same attitude. Stalin’s idea of banishment was to send the disaffected leaders to minor posts in remote districts, where thei,r activities could do little ham, but it is stated that they decline to accede to the orders that have been issued. If this is the case Stalin’s power must lie limited, and the development is in striking (contrast to the banishment methods of other days. In August last the Central Executive Committee and the Central Control Committee) of the Communist Party, in joint session, reprimanded Trotsky and Zinovicff, but postponed the question of their expulsion from the Central Executive Committee of the party in order to give them an opportunity to prepare their case for presentation to the Congress of the Communist Party on December 1, Trotsky and his supporters, however, did not wait for the assembly of the party congress. They continued their agitation and endeavored to distribute -printed speeches and other propaganda throughout the country. This precipitated matters, and Trotsky and Zinovioff were expelled from the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party for “ factional activity and indiscipline.” At a meeting of the committees of the Communist party at the end of October there were fierce interchanges between Stalin and Trotsky. It w-as declared that the secret police had discovered contacts between some of Trotsky’s supporters and counter-revolutionaries which might be suspected as the beginning of an armed rebellion against the Soviet Government. Though not charging Trotsky and Zinovicff with direct complicity in this matter, the representatives of the administration contended that by their opposition to the policies of the Soviet Government they were aiding and encouraging indirectly the enemies of the Soviet State. In reply, Trotsky asserted that Lenin had no faith in Stalin, accrediting him with the statement: “Remove from the post of general secretary of the Communist Party Stalin, who can bring the party to rupture and ruin.” Trotsky’s charges on this occasion were that the administration had swung from the Left to the Right, from the proletariat to the small bourgeoisie, from the worker to the technical specialist, from the member of the Communist Party to the member of the machine, from the poor peasant to the rich peasant, from the Shanghai worker to Chiang Kai-Shek, and from the Chinese peasant to the bourgeois officer class. These reactionary movements, Trotsky declared, formed the basis of Stalin’s policy. Two things are made clear by this statement and by recent developments. One is that Russia and the world would not gain much by the success of Trotsky and his followed?, and the other is that liberty of Speech and action has not advanced uhder the Soviet rule from that which obtained sader the Tsars.

Mr R. E. Aubin, son of Dr Aubin, of Auckland, climbed Mount Cook on Thursday with Guide Jack Pope (says a Timaru Press Association telegram). Weather conditions were perfect, and the climb was made in tne excellent time of eighteen hours. Allegations by the Wellington police that one Valentine had been warning motorists that they were running into a police trap resulted in Valentine being charged at the court with attempting to obstruct a constable in the execution of his duty. Mr Putnam, for Valentine, said the court was being asked to say that if a man was about to commit a crime an attempt to stop him was an offence against tho police. Mr E. Page, S.M., replied that that was not the case the police were setting up. They were setting up that the car was in fact committing the breach of the by-laws, and while the officers were endeavoring to obtain material to prosecute for that breach Valentine endeavored to stop the man. He refused to dismiss the case as trivial, but said if Mr Putnam wished to look into legal authorities he would give him time. The case was adjourned till Tuesday.

Tho itinerary of Dr A. W. Hill, director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has been revised following on the representations made by the public meeting this week in Dunedin, which had been omitted from his tour. Last night Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., chairman of the meeting which carried the resolution of protest, and also other members of societies interested, received telegrams from the Hon. W. Downie Stewart advising that arrangements had now been made for I3r Hill to leave Christchurch on February 1 for Dunedin, where he will spend one and a-half days. Mr Stewart explained in the telegrams that lie was not aware of the itinerary of Dr Hill’s tour until he had read the Dunedin protest in tho papers. Negotiations have been completed for the sale of the old-established engineering business of Messrs Stevenson and Cook, at Port Chalmers. The purchaser is Mr J. W. Scurr, of Dunedin. The works are known as tho Maori workshops, and were founded nearly seventy years ago, the owners for many years being Morgan, Cable, and Co. Mr Scurr takes possession next week. A brief sitting of the Police Court was held this morning before Sir H. W. Bundle, S.SI. A female first offender for drunkenness, who was arrested in Slanse street at 6.20 last evening, was lined 20s, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. Robert William Burgess was charged with the theft at Berwick of a bicycle belonging to John Fraser, the value of the machine being 30s. Sergeant Turner applied for a remand, as the police, he said, wished to make further inquiries. On December 25 the accused, it was alleged, rode from Berwick to Outram on a lady’s cycle which he picked up. Later ho took the wheel out of the lady’s cycle and fitted it into the frame of a. man’s cycle. The police wished to find out what had become of the first machine. His Worship remanded accused to appear on January 20, and allowed him bail in his own recognisance of £25 on condition that he reported daily to tho police. Business people and others are advised to be on the watch for “split” pound or ten shilling notes, it having been reported to the local police that one of these was successfully passed tho other day. Considerable inconvenience and annoyance were caused throughout the country several years ago by notes which had been illegally treated in this way, and it is hoped that careful scrutiny of notes will speedily end any further attempt to “ take down ” people by such means. A precautionary glance at each side of a note by the recipient will at once make it clear if there has been any attempt to defraud. The postal authorities advise that the Marama, which left Sydney for Wellington at 4 p.m. yesterday, has on hoard 177 bags (including 143 bags from beyond Australia) and fifty-eight hampers of mail for Dunedin, duo here on Wednesday. Headquarters of the Egyptian Exploration Society, London, lias presented to the Dominion Museum at Wellington and Auckland Museum replicas of the head of one of the daughters of Akhcnaten, taken from a group unearthed at Tel El Amarua in tho winter of 1926-27. Tho head is either that of King Tutankhamen’s wife or one of his sisters-in-law. It is about the size of a large doll’s head, and the workmanship is exceptionally high. The original of tho group from which the head is taken remains in the society’s museum at Cairo.—Wellington Association message. As Harold Snell, of Tutukaka, was starting the engine in a milking shed yesterday it back-fired and the place was soon a mass of flames. Snell, in endeavoring to put out the fire, was badly burned about the legs and hands, and was sent to tho hospital. The shed, which was insured for £2OO, was a total loss.—Whangarei Press Association telegram. The diamond jubilee year of the Blueskiu Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s Show came around before some of the society’s supporters were aware of it, and on the ground where the show was held to-day frequent expressions of surprise at the rapid flight of time was expressed, but seemingly most of the exhibitors themselves had not been taken unaware, and as a result the quality of the diamond jubilee exhibits were quite above the average. Regret was expressed on all sides concerning the death since last year of Mr Peter Ireland, whose entries of stock had always helped materially to make the show a success. For to-day’s gathering the ' weather was dull, but (ine. As the districts chiefly a dairying one cattle contributed by far the largest number of entries, Ayrshire* and Jerseys being exceptionally_ well represented. There was also a_ fair line of Freisans, and some splendid specimens of horses (draught and light) were on exhibit. The entries, which totalled about 370, were considered to be quite as good numerically as those of any previous year.

Notification of Sunday services as enumerated below appear in our Sunday services advertising columns Anglican: St. Paul's Cathedral, All Saints’, St. Matthew’s, St. Peter’s. Presbyterian: First Church, Knox Church, St. Andrew’s, St. Stephen’s, Port Chalmers, Northeast Valley, Mornington, Kaikorai, Oaversham, South Dunedin, Chalmers, Musselburgh, Maori Hill, St. Clair, Methodist; Trinitv, Central Mission, Mornington, Cargill Road, St. Kilda, North-east Valley, Dundas Street, Rosiyn, Caversham, Port Chalmers. Congregational: Moray Place and King street Baptist; Hanover street, Roslyn, Caversham, Mornington, North-east Valley, South Dunedin. Church of Christ: Tabernacle, South Dunedin, Roslyn, Northeast Valley, Filled Street. York Place Hall, Playfair Street Hall, Salvation Army, Christian Science, Theosophicsl Society, Spiritualists, Gospel Hall, Christadelphians. Take no chances with your wedding photographs. On such an auspicious occasion you must have one quality—the best. Rembrandt wedding portraits are known for their fidelity, tl-cir excellence, and artistic 'finish—Rembrandt Studio, 199 George street. —[Advt.] The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of train arrangements in connection with the Palmerston Show on January 20. To-morrow (Sunday) services will be conducted in Knox Church by Rev. H, H. Barton, M.A. A prominent Auckland social worker, Mr F. Williams, who has had some unique experiences in work among the fallen and needy, will conduct special evangelistic services in the Octagon flail to-morrow morning and evening. The evening subject is Behind Prison Bars, or Life in Gaol.’ The Rev. C. Maitland Ellies will preach morning and evening at the United Congregational Church, King street, his subjects being ‘Great Praying and High Thinking’ and ‘ The Greater and the Lesser Loyalties. For spectacles that soothe the eyes consult W. V. Sturmcr, D. 5.0.1., G.A.0.C., 2 Octagon. Our business * exclusively optical. —[Advt.]

Go to Williamson’s for that gift, A better than ever” selection awaite you at fair prices. Next Bristol Piano Co.—fAdvt.] Tho pulpit of Trinity Methodist Church will be occupied to-morrow by two visitors to the city—the Rev. J. F. Jack, of Greendale, Christchurch, in the morning, and the Rev. A. M. Costain, of Roxburgh, in the evening. At the Gospel Tent Mission in King street (near Howe street Dunedin North), Mr Forbes Macleod, Scottish evangelist, speaks to-morrow night, at 8. ‘A White Stone and a New Name: What Does It Mean? will be the subject to be dealt with by the Rev. W. B. Scott at Cargill Road Methodist Church on Sunday evening. Tho Dunedin Starr-Bowkott Building Society will dispose of £1,500 by sale in the Nos. 3,4, and 6 groups, and £SOO in the No. 5 group by ballot in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Stuart'street, on Wednesday, January 25.