FREEDOM IN RUSSIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 June 1936, Page 7

FREEDOM IN RUSSIA

PARLIAMENT AND FRANCHISE

CONSTITUTION CHANGES

[by CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.]

LONDON, June 12.

The “Daily Telegraph’s” Moscow correspondent says: The text has been issued of a new Soviet Constitution, drafted by a Commission, over which M. Stalin presided. It claims to have established the world’s only real democratic system, though the monopoly of the Communist Party is maintained.

The Parliament will consist of two newly-created chambers. There will be a Lower House, to be called “The Union Council.’’ It is to be directly elected, by secret ballot, with one member for egch 300,000 electors. An Upper House, to be called “The Council of Nationalities” is to be indirectly elected. It is to represent Soviet Republics and autonomous national republics. The two bodies will meet in Moscow regularly twice each year. They will form “The Supreme Council,” to elect one President for the entire Soviet Union.

Every citizen, male or female, will be expected to vote, and will be able to stand for election. The so-called “Class Enemy” is now considered to have been “liquidated.” Civic rights to be granted include equal pay for both sexes, pensions, and holidays. Religious liberty, the right to hold political demonstrations, freedom of the Press, free speech, and security from arbitrary arrest, are also established.