RUSSIAN UNEMPLOYED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19698, 26 July 1927, Page 9

RUSSIAN UNEMPLOYED.

TOTAL. NOW 1,400,000.

DOLE OF SEVENPENCE A WEEK. (Received July 25, 7.36 p.m.) j5 ufl . LONDON. July 24. The Riga correspondent of the Daily Mail reports that the unemployed in Russia total 1,400,000. This is an increase of 40 per cent, since October. The unemployed receive a dole amounting to sevenpence a week.

The problem of unemployment in Russia is largely the result of, and is aggravated by, t-ho flow of woikcis norn the country to the towns in of employment. The Soviet Union \ ear Book, 1927, says the peasants, attracted by rumours of expanding industry, hope to improve their condition of life by going'to the towns. In the last three years the number of unemployed has practically remained stationary in spito of the fact that industry and transport are absorbing numerous workers. About 2,500,000 workers go to the towns every year and about 500,000 settle down. The problem is being dealt with in three ways. The first is the organisation of relief works for the unemployed; the second is the granting of unemployment relief; and the third is the granting of certain exemptions and privileges to the unemployed in regard to the services, etc.' The unemployed aro supported by State subsidies, the Social insurance Fund, and by the trades unions. Public work is also organised and labonr exchanges art) formed to assist the unemployed by providing work for them. These labour exchanges have been finding employment for 2,500,000 persons a year. A reduction in the number of the unemployed is dependent upon the further growth of national economy. It is also suggested as important that migration should be further developed of people from the crowded areas to districts where land is available and also that the handicraft industries in the villages should be extended.