OIL FROM RUSSIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20888, 2 June 1931, Page 12

OIL FROM RUSSIA.

Sir, —Some of the speakers at ii'ic conference of {lie New Zealand Farmers' Union advocated (ho importation of Russian oil. Are those sneakers conversant with (lie appalling conditions under which the Russian worker toils to produce oil at the price quoted. 2Jd a gallon? Having visited Eastern Europe recently I can sav that the workers of this country live in a paradise compared with those unfortunate slaves of that country. What. England, and. incidentally, the colonies, have lost through Russia repudiating liet debts, we are now having to suffer for. We cannot-interfere with the political life of another nation, but as a Christian country we can at least refuse to have our country flooded with the produce and goods supplied at the price of abject slavery, and if the Government ever sanctions the import I hope it will be taxed hcavilv. Apart from the question of cost of production, if those speakers knew how much British capital was in vested in the exploration and development of the Russian oil fields, and which the Soviet Government refused to honour, thev would not be so ready to buy haot again what British capital has already paid for. I do not advocate monopolies or exploitation in any shape or form, but the world must show a stern face to Russia and refuse to accept her slave produced products. One wonders what those Labour idealists who have striven so hard to lift np the status of the working man must think. Are they blind to the fact that they stand in great jeopardy of the machine which they have created devour ing themselves. Lost Investment.