Russia is Satisfied With Soviet Regime

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 292, 11 December 1935, Page 2

Russia is Satisfied With Soviet Regime

NEW ZEALANDER TELLS OF lIIS OWN OBSERVATIONS

’ Having represented tho New Zealand Communist Party as a delegate to the Seventh World Congress of the Communist International, Mr. Leo Sim, who recently returned from a year’s visit to Russia, addressed a large audience at the Municipal hall, Palmerston North, on Sunday and gave 6ome interesting sidelights on the life and conditions of tho peasants and workers of tho Soviet Union.

During Mr. Sim’s stay he had the opportunity of visiting factories of various kinds, hospitals, kindergartens, rest homes, sanatoria, collective and State farms, and ho stated that the conditions of work in the factories and elsewhere wore good, with every prospect that in the very near future the standard of living would improve to a level far in advance of Now Zealand’s.

He explained that in addition to the wages received by tho workers they also received absolutely free medical and medicinal services, full pay during sickness, a fortnight ’3 holiday every year for those engaged an non-dangor-ous or light work, full pay being paid by tho factory or other organisation during tho period, and a month’s holiday for those engaged in dangerous or hard work.

Further, they were granted free rail transport and free board during their stay at tho rest home where they spent their vacation. Almost every factory, almost every collective farm, he added, had its own rest home and sanatorium, generally situated in tho Caucasus, or near the Black Sea or tho Caspian Sea. All expectant mothers received two months' holiday on full pay both prior to the birth of the child and two months after the birth of the child, whilo all medical attention and medicine'. was free.

When the another returned to work she received half an hour off in every three and a half hours to give attention to the child.

The speaker further explained that he had travelled extensively in the Soviot Union, and had had the opportunity of visiting tho homes of many workers and peasants, and iu every instance he had found the people well satisfied with tho Soviet regime and very enthusiastic about the ultimate prospects of tho development of a classless society. Ho stated that all tho achievements that had been accomplished in the Soviet Union had been under' the direction and guidance of the Communist Farty. Commenting upon tho sporting activities of the nation, Mr. Sim explained that every possible facility was being made available throughout tho Soviet Union for both young and old to engage in some form of sport. He had witnessed the sports demonstration held in Moscow during September, when some hundreds of thousands of athletes participated, the beauty of the pageant being beyond description, while tho physique of both men and women had been truly remarkable. Every factory and collective farm had its physical culture instructor and the physical bonefits were already apparent in the stamp and bearing of the two sexes.

An interesting point mentioned by tho speaker was that there was no unemployment in Russia, nor could there be, owing to the people owning and controlling the oneans of production, distribution and exchange. While meantime the housing conditions in Moscow were below the standard, its population having grown from 1,000,000 to 3,600,000 since the revolution, it was confidently expected that on the completion of the 10-year plan the city would bo tho most modern in the world. •Construction was going on apace all over the Soviet Union, not only insofar as houses were concerned, but also in respect to factories. Mr. Sim concluded by stating that if the workers of the Dominion wished to make a Soviet New Zealand they should follow the leadership and guidance of tho New Zealand Communist Party.