FIVE-YEAR PLAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20986, 24 September 1931, Page 9

FIVE-YEAR PLAN.

PROGRESS MADE BY RUSSIA, THE SHORTAGE OF EXPERTS. The principles of the Russian Five-yea* Plan and its economic effects were_ dis« cussed in an address given by Mr. N. M. Richmond at a meeting of the Auckland Economic Society last evening. The presi. dent, Mr. W. 11. Cocker, presided over a large attendance. Mr. Richmond traced the various stages of Russian history leading to Soviet rule and the adoption of the Five-year Plan. He said the general impression was that Russia as a whole was keeping abreast of tiie task it had set itself. However, «it was generally agreed that the quality of its production was not high and a big problem was the shortage of skilled labour and "management. Many foreign experts had been imported, but these could not be retained perrnan ntly. To train Russian experts, the technical schools were working day ajid flight.. Mr. Richmond said tliftt the end of five years was not really intended as the final goal. It was merely a point, something tangible, to reach which the people could strive. An interesting discussion followed as to whether the standard of living of the Russian peoples was higher now than before tho revolution. It was stated that a-third of the national income was going back in capital investment. Under such circumstances a high standard of living could not. bo expected.