ELECTIONS IN RUSSIA.

Evening Star, Issue 20981, 21 December 1931, Page 8

ELECTIONS IN RUSSIA.

Independents and Communists in the Australian elections, we are told, were very poorly supported. Sixteen candidates lost their deposit, of whom seven were Communists and six Independents. No Communist was elected to the British House of Commons. In the New Zealand appeal only two stood, for an Auckland and a Wellington seat, and their total votes, in the first published returns, did not amount to six hundred. They manage things differently in Russia, to ensure that a Communist Government shall keep control. General elections in that country, as we learn from a correspondent of the London ‘Times,’ have little in common with the bourgeois system except their name. Every two years they are held, for the reconstruction of tho All-Union Congress of Soviets, but the masses play a direct part only in the first stage of tho election, the completion of which occupies several months. Town Soviets are first elected, according to industries with which tho voters are connected; also Soviets for villages, or groups of villages. Delegates from these bodies form provincial congresses, and in each of the seven constituent republics these elect a republican congress, the seven of which together elect the All-Union Congress, the supreme legislative and administrative authority, by which is elected the Tsik, or Parliament of Russia. But this Parliament holds only very short sessions, and only a small number of decrees emanate from them. Executive bodies which work under it are its presidium, or standing committee (also with legislative powers), and the Soviet/ of People’s Commissars, which is tho nearest approach in Soviet Russia to a cabinet of Ministers. But most real power seems to reside in tho Central Committee of tho Communist Party and its political bureau. Tho complete party control of the machinery of government, wo are told, is demonstrated in all stages of Soviet elections. To keep peasants, in the All-Union Congress, in their proper subordination, tho towns elect ono delegate for every 25,000 inhabitants and tho villages elect one for every 125,000. Tho word “election,” it is stated, is a misnomer in Soviet .Russia. There are in fact no elections at all, but a progression of appointments to which the electorate is required to assent. All forms of secret balloting are forbidden, and delegates are elected by a show of hands at public meetings, where ft would be dangerous to express objections to the official candidate. If it should happen that too many unofficial candidates should be elected, despite the risk of persecution as class-aliens, or Kulaks, “ tho life of such a Soviet is of short duration. The central authorities or the proper controlling organ of tho Communist Party dissolve tho Soviet and order a reelection, which, in consequence of precautionary measures taken, always returns a satisfactory body.” It is a system which only Communists in other countries can feel reason to envy.

There will ho no issue of the ‘ Star ’ on Friday next—Christmas Day. At a mass meeting of coal miners in Hnntly in connection with the dismissal of some 300 miners, a resolution was passed urging the Government to intervene and insist that the dismissal notices be withdrawn and work rationed as in the past. The meeting decided to call a conference of mine owners, members of Parliament, and miners, as the position is serious.

Judgment was given in the Arbitration Cfourt in Christchurch on Saturday in a case brought on behalf of the boot operatives under the boot operatives’ award. Owing to slackness of trade (says a Press Association telegram'), the boot factories, instead of dosing down for the usual ten days at Christmas, decided to close down for several weeks, and the employers served to the operatives notice of dismissal. The question for the court was whether such dismissals were in order, and whether the operatives were entitled to be paid wages for the timo the factories were closed. The court decided that in the circumstances the operatives were entitled to bo paid such wages.' It was not to be understood, said Mr Justice Frazer, that the award prohibited the definite dismissal and subsequent re-engagement of an employee. What was necessary to satisfy the court of the completeness of dismissal in any particular case could be decided if and when the necessity arose. A hundred and sixty men are now' employed by the Public Works Department on the construction of the Maimherikia Falls dam, which is to augment the Omakau irrigation, scheme; That is as big a staff as can bo profitably utilised. Quarries are being opened to supply the rock fillings, the site of the base is being stripped of loose stuff, and ‘one party is making a diversion tunnel to take the stream, whilst the dam is being built and afterwards serve as a spillway. By to-morrow that region of the earth in which New Zealand stands will have reached the limit of its tilt towards the sun. In conventional language Tuesday is to bo our “ longest day.” A wonderful summer it has been so far, for what is ordinarily termed fine weather —the best for years for outdoor pleasure. It ia a pity that our people’s enjoyment of the sunshine has been and is yet tinctured with anxiety about the drought. Our shallow soils need frequent rains if they are to be productive. The monthly meeting of the committee of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children was held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall; present Dr M'Kinnon (in the chair), Mosdamcs Kennedy, Foster, Ross, Adamson, Downing, Todd, Park, Misses Fraser, Riinciman, the mayor " (Mr 11. S. Black), Rev. V. G. B. King, and the secretary. The secretary’s report of the cases was read and discussed. On the motion of Mrs Ross, Dr M'Kinnon was unanimously thanked for her untiring zeal in the interests of Hie society during her office of acting-presi-dent.

An empty garage at the back of Mr Charles Bills’s premises in George street caught fire last night as tlic result of some ashes being left against its side. The City Fite Brigade turned out at 11.32 and quickly had the outbreak under control, the window, wall, and ceiling being only slightly damaged. The garage is owned by Mr J. B. Shaddock.

A mild epidemic of whooping cough in Auckland has caused the school attendances lately to fall. At a large children's gathering on Saturday hundreds of those invited were absent because of whooping cough, and parents’ fear of it. The health officer says the epidemic should quickly pass l now the schools are closed.—Press Association.

Saturday, December 26, will witness the advent to Invercargill of some 500 delegates for the annual conference of the Presbyterian Bible classes and Sunday school teachers. This conference is hold alternately in the North and South Island, this year Invercargill being the selected site. • Delegates are coming from the far north, not a few from Auckland and even Whangarei, while others hail from the various centres throughout the rest of the North Island and the whole of the South. The conference extends from December 26 to January 4, 1932. The lady delegates are having as their camp quarters the Girls’ High School and the Technical College buildings, whilst the men will be using the Park School for their camp. It was generally expected that the number coming to the conference this year would bo considerably below that of the previous conference, but, contrary to expectations, the number so far registered is equal to that of the last conference at Masterton.

The postal authorities advise that the mails which left Auckland per the Aorangi via Vancouver On November 17 reached London on December 19. Messrs A. Cable, J.P., and W. M'Ewan, J.P., presided at a sitting of tin Port Chalmers Court this morning. Campbell M'Donald was lined 20s for disorderly conduct while drunk, and Joseph Albert Holland, with whom the dispute took place, was charged with lighting in the street. As M'Donald had been the' aggressor Holland was convicted and discharged. The stored water in the Dunedin reservoir was this morning measured at 104.040.000 gallons, a decrease of 61,250.000 gallons as compared with the record last Monday. All good citizens who note those figures will moderate their drawings off. Authority is given to strengthen the Ewebnm reservoir, the idea being to turn it from its original purpose, for the use of miners, to tho necessities of irrigation. The strengthening will enable tho drain to bo heightened by sft. For tho last six weeks tho 15. P. and L. department of tho City Corporation has been working, with unemployed relief labour, a diversion on Berwick Flat on tho road to Waipori Falls. This work is so far advanced as to make the new bit of road, about half a mile long, usable in reasonably fine weather, so now there is an open i-oad all the way. Previously the route was by a right of way through private property. Tho need to get a permit is therefore obviated. It is expected that during tho holidays Waipori Falls will be visited by a largo number of persons, now that they can get through easily, and the corporation will bo pleased to know that tho scenery is enjoyed. But a caution is timely. There must not ho any lighting of fires except in the fireplaces that arc provided, nor is it permitted to pull the bush about, or to carry firearms. The Scenery' Presorvatimi Amendment Act _ gives authority to prosecute for such offences, and a conviction may entail a fine up to £IOO. An inspector will be on duty during the holiday period to look out for any' breaches of tho law. The fireplaces referred to are forty-gallon oil drums. There are about ten of them, conveniently placed.

Private information from Nelson is to the effect that that district was blessed with copious rain at the week-end, flooding the creeks and low-lying ground.