GUARDING THE CROPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21986, 22 June 1933, Page 7

GUARDING THE CROPS

MEASURES BY THE SOVIET “ BARBERING ” BY PEASANTS (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, June 20. The Riga correspondent of The Times says that the Soviet has proclaimed a new campaign against “ grain barbers ” —namely, hungry peasants who cut the ears of grain standing in crops. “ Bartering ” has begun in many regions, though the grain is barely ripe. The measures include the organisation of night patrols. Young Communists, accompanied by dogs, hunt the thieves, and also supervise the ordinary crop patrols, who often steal grain themselves. Cropguarding has become a vast problem. Over 10,000 selected town Communists have been sent to the country armed with extraordinary powers to take over the purging of the management of the collective farms. CONTROL CENTRALISED. MOSCOW, June 20. (Received June 21, at 7 p.m.) An important decree centralises control in the O.G.P.U. with the avowed purpose of avoiding rash actions by the various Soviet republics. NEW ALL-SOVIET TRIBUNAL. RIGA, June 21. (Received June 21, at 7 p.m.) The Soviet has created a new allSoviet tribunal superior to all the organs of justice. The 0.G.P.U., headed by the State Prosecutor, will organise the effective guarding of crops and will punish thieves. —Times Cable.