VISIT TO RUSSIA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18500, 12 September 1934, Page 11

VISIT TO RUSSIA

CANADIAN LABOR M.P. CONDITIONS CRITICISED NO FREEDOW OF SPEECH VANCOUVER, Aug. 3. Freedom of speech is non-existent in Russia and criticism of the Government is a crime. Freedom of th 6 press does riot exist, and the church is fighting a rearguard action against a Government which is openly atheistic. The church has almost disappeared, but no nation can tamper with the religion of its people and prosper. These are a few observations made before the Kiwanis Club by Mr. Humphrey Mitchell, Labor member of tho Canadian House of Commons for Hamilton, in a speech on “Dictatorship.” Mr. Mitchell last year visited Russia, Germany, and other European countries studying conditions.

The Hamilton Labor man is a forceful speaker, possessed of the gift of humor, striking simile and a telling and picturesque way of driving homo his arguments. After reviewing conditions existing under dictatorships as he saw them while abroad, he summed up his analysis by declaring that there is nothing superior to tho British Constitution, udder which revolutions against oppression arc by the sccfpt ballot.

Summarising his Russian observations, the speaker declared all that the people in reqnire is. a secret ballot. .Given that, the game is up as far as dictatorship and its abuses are concerned, he said. He described the differences between the British and German ways of doing things in the following words: “When I went to Berlin, I was. told lo ask no questions. I could have gonp to London, stood outside Buckingham Palace, and told the King to go where I might think he should go, and all that Would have happened would have been that I would have been laughed at.”

After seeing what he saw on his trip, he said lie hoped he would never live to see the day in Canada whoa persecution will supersede reason. RELIGION IN 'RUSSIA

Referring to subjection of religion in Russia, lie declared that tho spiritual forces within a nation are infinitely more important than the material. Another observation along the same line was that “when yoii destroy family life, that is the end of everything. ' ’ The speaker found Russia admitting sho had to export much needed food In order to meet obligations of the five-year plan. Depreciation, which amounts to about 10 per cent in this country, reaches 40 and SO per cent in Russia, hp said. “Images in Russia started oft' on the one level,” he continued, “but it whs found impractical to continue this arid tlio sliding scale and piecework has been substituted, Russia thus throwing off the very soul of its new •creed. ’ ’

The speaker did not think much of the method? of protecting life in industry in several’countries he visited. These exist on paper but not in practical operation, he said, and would riot bo ;tolerated in Canada five minutes. Mr. Mifchell prgised th’p achievements tho' now Russian regime has made in education, although, it is not on the broad cultural litips of Canada arid there Is no comparison between tho facilities in the two countries. “Russia’s 'educational policy in years to conic will change the economic outlook, as her boys and girls are. no different from ours and freedom at present does not exist there,” He said. ' Mr! Mitchell charged that Rimma ’s ; agricultural policy has snuffed' out’ millions of lives. Eo 'cjuesfibfied If mechanised agriculture is' sound, adding that Canadian’ farmers are beginning to find that out.

‘ ‘ Criticism of tho Government in Russia is a crime,’' 1)0 conticued, “and"the press is owned hod operated by the Government. The people know absolutely nothing of .what goes ou id other countries'. A free press is one pf the driving forces of civilisation, but Russia has not got it. You must submit all films taken in your camera while in Russia to the authorities. Most of the films taken by our party were confiscated. Tf the country is as good as if Is cracked up to he, why not let the world sec it#'” ho asked. GOODS ARE SCARCE In a passing reference to the currency of Russia, manipulation of which, as far as visitors are. coneorned, ho described as a “racket,” ho remarked that one' of bis party paid tls for a bottle of beer.

‘‘l'pat’s enough to start a revolution |n England', ’■ ’ he remarked amid laughter. Mr. Mitchell said he found a scarcity of everything id Russia from bread tp shoe laces. While conditions in Polish tlkrainia are by no means ideal, hg said, they are tremendously better than ip Russian TTlernitua. In comparison, f‘degradation” is the word that boat describes Russian Poland, ho said. Speaking of Lenin, Mr. Mitchell said his impression was that he Was a kindly, cultured man. Had he lived, conditions would have been much better in Russia, as he had the .supreme gift of compromise, he said. Tn the speaker’s opinion the German situation is fraught With more importance to the peace of Europe than the Russian, as the latter nountry is too intent on her own problems and War is the last thing she wants. He has little respect for Hitler, whom he described as “half clown, half faker. ’ ’