PITIFUL STORY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21549, 22 January 1932, Page 8

PITIFUL STORY

WORKERS IN RUSSIAN PORTS DRESSED IN RAGS (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, January 14. Remarkable stories of conditions in Russian ports were related in Sydney by the officers and crew of the Norwegian motor ship Eli, which arrived from Odessa. m ballast after taking a cargo of Russian wheat to Indian ports. They said that the condition of Russian workers was pitiable, and although many of them had visited Russian ports regularly during the last 12 years, no improvement was apparent even though the Soviet leaders made a great deal of the far-famed Five-year Plan. That plan had resulted in a great increase in the export trade, but was carried out at the expense of the Russians, who were deprived of food and clothing. While in Russian ports many members of the crew of the Eli sold all their spare clothing, as the Russians had only rags to cover themselves against the seventy of the winter _. Mr Jacob Gundersen, second officer, said that the people had reached the lowest level of wretchedness. No other civilised people would wear the clothing and eat the food that was rationed out to the Russians. For years they had believed the words of their leaders, that conditions would improve after a short period of adversity. There was no sign of that improvement yet, and the workers had begun to murmur. They all expected a change, and were not such staunch Communists as the officials believed. Mr Gundersen said that when he talked alone with the workers they told him that conditions had never been so bad; However, as soon as the workers were joined by a party of his friends they all commended Communism. In a groun they professed loyalty to the Government, but individually almost every man was against it. it was hardly necessary to leave the Eh to see how matters stood. While the ship loaded at Odessa squads of men and women were drafted to perform the work. Soldiers were placed over them to prevent shirking. None of the workers was adequately clothed. Some of the women had no boots, and their legs had bits o£ r , as ® round them as a covering. They worked as hard as the men, and were given many additional duties, such as sweeping the decks and repairing the bags A I the time the wharf was overrun with children. Children were put to work when they reached the age of 13 years. Every action of the workers was supervised by the soldiers, whose well-fed appearance and warm uniforms contrasted with the general poverty to be seen on sides. As the men and women filed down the gangway from the ship they were eoarched! Cases of extreme seven y as warnings against stealing, such < s ins the offenders, were discussed, but no instance of that occurred while the Eli was in port. Building seems to be at a standstill. There were no new houses, hut great buildings designed like barracks in which the workers lived. Each family was allowed a flat of two rooms. Mr Ansgar Milsen, chief steward said he had visited Russia six times. Iransections between the .seamen and the townspeople were harried. Members ot the crew were not permitted to handle any Russian money, and from time to tune fhanv seamen had been imprisoned by authorities when Russian notes were found in their possession. However, the Russians were so eager to obtain clothing that they dared to break the regulations Boots were in special request. A pair could be sold for about £1 on the gold basis, but as one gold rouble was worth about 30 paner roubles, the townspeople had to pay 250 roubles for them. Russia was a country of contrasts, workers and peasants were overworked and almost destitute, but tbe officials aud soldiers were comfortable a ?d P . Most of the young men had joinedl tU army to secure the improved conditions. The armv had the same status as the pr fessions had in Western Europe. The officials and soldiers had comparative freedom, while the labourers and seamen were not allowed to leave then ship.