RUSSIAN SOCIALISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23369, 8 December 1937, Page 6

RUSSIAN SOCIALISM

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —In reply to your correspondent, the source of my statements was the Webbs' book on " Soviet Communism," chiefly volume I, chapter iii, and volume 11, chapter ix. Though supporting Socialism, I had always been depressed by the " regimentation' and bureaucracy which I thought it involved, and was agreeably surprised to find, from reading the Webbs, how far it is possible to dispense with these. Differential wage rates, in the State-controlled enterprises, seem to be only one of the methods employed" self-government (of course, within the general limits of the plan) obtains in the co-operative societies and collective farms. The latter constitute by far the greater part of Russian agriculture. The profit-making motives are accordingly not eliminated, but only controlled and used Whether this does or does not accord precisely with the concept of surplus value. I should not like to say. The point is that it is sensible and socially expedient. Initiative, intelligence, and superior capacity are socially valuable commodities ind if the people as a whole can only secure these, in the fullest measure by paying higher rates of wages, and are willing to bear this cost, there does not appear to be any exploitation involved. The difference from a chaotic system is still profound. In the latter there is no attempt made to correlate remuneration with social value.—l am. etc.. J. N. Findlay. Dunedin. December 7.