Farms in Russia

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 123, 26 May 1937, Page 9

Farms in Russia

COLLECTIVE SYSTEM AND PROSPERITY OF PEOPLE

Farming conditions in Russia and the rapid strides being made under the collective farming programme to increase the numbers of livestock, and particularly sheep, were discussed by Mr F. Lee, of Palmerston North, who arrived from London by the Remucra this week. Mr Lee has been in Russia during the past 12 months, engaged under the supervision of tho commissariat of Agriculture in installing a great number of sheep-shearing machines in the collective farms of the Moscow region. “With the new economic policy that followed tho civil war in Russia,” said Mr Lee, “the collectivisation of farms developed to such an extent that it met with much resistance from, the Kulack class, or capitalist farmers, when they found they were losing their land. During 1929 and 1930 stock was slaughtered in wholesale fashion by the Kulacks, and since then every effort has been made, with an amazing measure of success, to build up herds. Sheep-breed-ing i 3 receiving increasing attention, and the industry must develop into a powerful forco before long.” World’s Greatest Farming Venture Mr Lee was interested to learn of the recent delegation from Russia to inspect sheep in New Zealand with a view to selecting suitable types for breeding in Russia. He commented upon tho desirability of trade relations in this respect being developed between New Zealand and Russia, and said that it could only result in mutual benefits to the peoples of both countries. Collective farming represented the greatest scheme of farming in the world, continued Mr Lee. Whole villages were laid out in the centre of huge tracts of land, which wore cultivated by the farmers, who owned the land in perpetuity and without any payment. The income from the farms was divided among the men working them, according to the number of working days they were engaged. Apart from that they were able to supplement their earnings from small plots on which their homes were situated, by raising poultry and pigs, growing vegetables, and utilising the land to other advantage. Co-operation and Prosperity * 1 The programme has developed to s jcli an extent that there are now only about 2 per cent, of the farmers in tho Soviet Union, representing about 1,000,000 peasants, who are not engaged in collective or State farming,” said Mr Lee. ”The majority are collective farmers who benefit by sharing 400,000 tractors and other scientific devices, which tho individual farmer is unable to afford. Co-operation to tho farmer meaas greater prosperity.” Giving somo of his general impressions of Russia, Mr Leo said that the people were prosperous. Their slogan, “Life must bo more happy, life must bo mere joyous.” was an actual fact at present. Shops were crowded with buyers, and there was no lack of money to buy goods apart from mere necessities. Tho idea prevalent in the minds of many the starving Russians and the repressed conditions under which they lived was “absolute nonsense.” Children were receiving the greatest cart. “There is no unemployment in Russia,” Mr Lee added. “Having laid a sound basis for her heavy industries, Russia is now producing tho whole of her own consumers’ needs. There is socialist ownership of all factories and also of the goods produced.”