BOLSHEVISTS'NEW DECREE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14840, 18 February 1919, Page 5

BOLSHEVISTS'NEW DECREE.

WOMEN TO BECOME PROPERTY OF THE NATION. MARRIAGE LAWS SWEPT AWAY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON, Feb. 16. An astounding Bolshevist- marriage proclamation has been posted' m East Russia and is being carried out at Ekaterinburg. It commands compliance with the decision of the Kronstadt Soviet. Private possession of women, is abolished. Social inequalities and legitimate marriages have served as instruments by which the. most beautiful women have become - : £he 'property of the bourgeoise and the proper continuation of the human race is . prevented accordingly. After March Ist the right to possess women Wtween the ages of 17 and) 32 is abolished. They are proclaimed the property of the whole nation. .'•; .The decree does not affect women haying five children. The former owners may retain the right of using wives without waiting their turn. If husbands resist this decree 1 they forfeit 'their right. . ' ' The distribution and management of women is transferred to the Anarchist Club. Three days after the decree was published all women were given to the use of the whole nation, and; were obliged to present themselves "at the club. Any citizen noticing a woman not submitting herself must give the Anarchist Club her name. .^Th© ninth clause of the.. decree reads: Men citizens have the right to use one ,^'oman not oftener than three times yreekly for three hours. Every maia wishing to use a' piece of, public prpperty must have a- ceriincate that M belongs to a working-class family. Other male members of the community can obtain equal righte with the proletariat by paying ten pounds monthly into a public fund. All women proclaimed national property will receive twentythree pounds monthly. Those becoming pregnant will be released from duties for four months. Children yrill be educated at the cost of the public. In the case of the birth of twins the mother receives a prize of twenty pounds. All men and women are obliged to careMlly watch their health. Those spreading cfisease will be severely punished. Any refusing to support this decree Will 'be proclaimed / enemies of the people.