CONDITIONS IN RUSSIA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17410, 7 November 1930, Page 11

CONDITIONS IN RUSSIA

INDUSTRY RUINED NO FAMILY LIFE EX-NAVAL OFFICER’S STORY SYDNEY, Oct. 21. The following interview was given yesterday bv an fix-commodore of the Russian Navy, whose name is suppressed because there is a price on his head in Russia: “Delegates to Russia from other countries,” lie pays, “sec Russia under the most favorable conditions. They are entertained at the best hotels, are given free passes to theatres, and free transport on trains and motors. Tlie other Side of Russian life is carefully hidden, and. so the delegates come back to their respective countries preaching of this progressive country, and describing it as the real land where milk and honey flows. But, after all, they have been living iii a fool’s paradise. How can a. visitor obtain a true impression of a country after a visit- of seven days, tlie usual length of the congress?” The commodore speaks half a dozen languages, and has a surprising knowledge of World affairs, and is in constant communication with friends in Russia. “Industry in Russia is ruined altogether,” lie said, “and is only represented by 25 per cent, of pre-war activity. Railway services are dislocated, bridges destroyed aiid telegraphic communication practically stopped. The Government finds itself in a terrible financial position because of the repudiation of all kirtds of debts of previbtts Russian Governments. The BolsiiViks have closed the way to raising loans from any other country. But the army, tlie mainstay of the Bolshevik Government, has to be maintained, find so the peasants are compelled by military force to hand, over to the Government 75 per cent, of the crops, and receive no payment. The peasants revolted, aiid for oiie season only grew sufficient for their own wants, hut they ate now compelled to cultivate to full capacity. The military is always on full rations., but not so tub Government officials, whose position is poor. For six years during hiy residence tinder Bolshevik regime it was impossible to buy in Rfissia fbr any price white bread, tea, sugar, salt, etc. PEORLE STARVING “■As the Government must- have cash to carry on, every bushel of wheat obtained from the peasants is sent abroad for sale at any price; even at the price of starving the Russian people, who for the past 18 months have not seen a loaf of white bread. _ The Russian populace luls to he satisfied With black bread made of ryfi. Russia exports a lot of butter to Germany, where it is sold at Is pfev pound. In Russia the price, of butter ranges from 20s to 36s per pound. According to late Russian papers, nobody can obtain e<'"s or milk, tlie products being obtainable only for children under two years, and. tiien only on a doctor s prescription. Having no meat rations, no fat, milk, eggs, or white bread, the population is practically starving. “The Bolsheviks spend huge sums of money each year in spreading propaganda in every country in the world, in the hope that one day the World will rise in revolution. In this way worldcontrol is aimed at. ; “Education is compulsory, but is jn a vfirv unprogressive state on account of the children being underfed, and reduced to very poor conditions so far as their homes and clothing are concerned. “Religion is forbidden, and practically all tlie churches in Russia have been converted into picture shows, museums, and lecture halls. According to tlie latest information from Russia, the ministers of religion have been deprived of their daily bread rations, arid have to provide for themselves in finy way to avoid starvation.

LOW MORAL STANDARD “There is practically no family life, the children belonging to the State, and the parents being only guardians. Marriage is simplified to the ordinary contract, which may be made before arty Bolshevik official. Divorce is very easy to obtain, for all a wife or luisbarid lias to do ip to declare before a Bolshevik official that they do hot want to carry on the matrimonial contract, and a divorce is immediately granted. No difficulty is experienced in Russia in finding men and womfen who have been legally married arid divorced 18 or 20 "times. The children are no burden on the parents. They can be, sent to State orphanages, where they are brought up to follow Communistic doctrines'. The morals of the hoys and girls at these schools are appalling. One shudders to think of the future. At a special international university in Moscow, people ot every race and toloi ate encouraged to study Communistic doctrine (free of charge), and on their return to their respective countries to continue Bolshevik activities on full pay from Moscow. That is why students from all over the world attend this university. , “In' Australia, the different parties the (Government without restraint. In Russia everyone who criticises the Government is severely punished, either by being shot 01 starved. All private correspondence is opened hv censors, and writers referring in a critical way to tlie Government are shot. No paper is allowed to be printed unless the editor is a Communist. ’ “The main qualification for any Government position is that the applicant is an orthodox Communist. Knowledge of trades or professions is of secondary consideration.”