A NOTABLE VISITOR.

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1922, Page 7

A NOTABLE VISITOR.

PROFESSOR W. T. GOODE. By to-morrow’s express there will arrive on the Coast a gentleman whoso varied -experience of Europe, and nota- ! bly of Soviet Russia, is probably unequalled by that of any other person in the Dominion. Professor AV. T. Goode, who is 62 ' years of age, was educated at Warwick ■ and Charterhouse, and took his AI.A. degree at London University, with honours in modern language by 1882. His linguistic accomplishments are indeed quite remarkable for for in addition to French, Spanish, German, and Italian, he also speaks most perfectly that most difficult language, Finnish. Air Goode was trained as an elementary school i teacher in Chelsea, and later held posts) in various grammar schools, and at ■ Owens College, Manchester. Afterwards he became a lecturer for the Lancashire Teachers’ Association and Head of the first University Day 'Training School in England. In 1905 he was appointed principal of the London County Council Day Training College for Women Elementary Teachers

at Graystoke Place, where his energy and enthusiasm made him conspicuously successful. For the last several years he has been on leav-e in order to devote himself to public work. If anybody was capable of fairly judging the work of tho Soviet Government, and in particular as far as the children and education was concerned it was Principal Good*c. Going to Russia as the special correspondent of the Alanchestcr “Guardian,” a journal not in the least inclined to Bolshevism, ho uttered the following views on what he saw: “The Government is strong. On a priori grounds it could be argued that a regime which can hold out for two years under tho appalling conditions obtaining in Russia must be strong. But I have evidence of its strength and of the elaborateness of its organisation. And it grows stronger. The mon in power are sincere, fanatical, if you will, in the strength of their adherence to the principles of the Revolution. ! This they regard as the opening stage 1 of the world’s next period of evolution tho socialistic. Given this, they are . capable administrators, profiting by the hard experience they are gaining, quick I and suppl-c to make the changes which ’ that experience indicates.” It was only on his second attempt that Professor Goode was able to reach Russia, for on his first try he was arrested in Eathonia; later again he was arrested by a British warship, and imprisoned on board. H-e was released, however, and Lord Curzon apologised ; on behalf of tho Government The conclusions arrived at by Professor Goode were that he had not found in Russia the milleuium but the reality was far otherwise than the stories circulated in Great Britain would make one believe. Ho had found a stable and efficient form of Government. Those in the highest positions were subjected to the control of tho workers in a fashion unknown in Western Europe, and their standard of living was of the simplest. The Soviet Government was the most honest and capable that Russia ever had. A good deal could no doubt bo urged against, what was called the “Dictatorship of th.u Proletariat,’’ but in practice it simply meant that those who did the work of the country ruled. There was economic as well as political equality of the sexes under the Soviet rule. Indeed as a result of this open prostitution had completely disappeared from the streets of Moscow, Petrograd, and all the large cities. Air Goode verified this fact which was first made public to the Western world by Air Bullitt, Captain Petit, ami Air Lincoln Steffens of the now famous Bullitt Alission. During the very worst period of the food shortage in the large cities the children were always fed, they never went without at least one good meal a day even during the famine time. Although the streets of Moscow were unlighted there was greater safety there than in the streets of London, Paris, or New Y'ork. As for the undoubted excesses of the terror only the historian fully equipped with all the facts could apportion tho full and fair responsibility.

Professor Goode, besides recounting his experiences in Europe for the benefit of the largo audiences which have everywhere greeted him in New Zealand, is interested in enterprises run by the Government, and intends tf» visit Ross, Hokitika and Rimu, probably giving a lecture in the two former places. Although a complete itinerary has not been mapped out for tho lecturer, he will address the following meetings this week: — Runanga, Wednesday; Rewanui, Thursday; and Blackball, Sunday. Aleetings for next week will be arranged latw.