GRIM CONDITIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27345, 22 March 1950, Page 5

GRIM CONDITIONS

Workers In Russia HOUSING AND FOOD PROBLEMS NZPA—Reuter—Copyright Rec. 11 p.m. LONDON, Mar. 21. Generally in Soviet Russia today, three, four or more workers share a small room, a young Austrian prisoner of war, just released after four years and a-half in European Russia told Reuter’s Vienna correspondent. The general picture he presents confirms previous -accounts of the fearful destruction wrought by the Germans during ‘their retreat, and also indicates that substantial progress has been made towards recovery. The correspondent’s informant said: “A worker with a wife and two or three children considers himself in luck if he gets a room with two beds in it. Food is ample but monotonous and except for necessities like bread and lower-grade fats, is extremely dear. Meat is beyond the reach of most workers’ families. What are regarded as necessities for workers are extremely cheap, and all luxuries are extremely dear.” Asked to explain what constituted a luxury, he replied: “Meat, butter, ties, collars and a good suit.”

The informant added “The Russian worker is badly trained and has no incentive to work. He is interested only in reaching his ‘norm.’ If he made, a habit of being below his ‘ norm ’ he could get a prison sentence. The treatment of prisoners of war is not bad and they are paid at the same rates as Russian civilians of their grade.”