RUSSIAN TRADE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 23 March 1922, Page 3

RUSSIAN TRADE.

LENIN'S ATTACK ON UNIONISTS

I In announcing to the All-Russian , Soviet Congress Soviet Russia's accepj tance of the American relief administra- | tion's proposal to. give Russia twenty million dollars' worth of grain ou condition that Russia bought ten million dollars' worfn more in America, JLenm , estimated that this total of 30,0O,f)0O ■ dollars would buy about 30,000,000 i poods of grain. (This is approximately 18,000,000 bushels). The Soviet Premier said this would greatly help the famine situation.in tins Volga district, but declared that the Soviet Government must continue to exert every effort to collect its full grain levy. He said it would require 18,000,----000 poods more from abroad to bring the total average before next harvest to 215,000,000 poods, which was 15,000,000 poods below the minimum necessary to carry Russia through the famine crisis. In his address to Congress, Lenin defended the Soviet Government's" economic policy and mefcilessly attacked its critics-, especially the trade union men who, he declared, desired to continue to manage the industries. He said that me.n who had demonstrated no to manage' industries were depmanding to be retained in control. He challenged them to show qualifications jto buy supplies and keep factories going I rather than to write resolutions.

"Learning to trade," he continued, "Is difficult. It is not like oratory, but wo have to learn it." He hated dealing with traders who demanded 100 per cent, profit, but said it must be dofte. Raw materials must be collected and bought at any cost from sharp traders, and business must berevived. But, he added, it. was only by straggling, 10 or 15 years with traders that the Communist workmen would learn.how to trad*. -' His criticism of the trade unions was heartily applauded.