MOSCOW BROADCAST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19337, 29 May 1937, Page 7

MOSCOW BROADCAST

MR WALTER NASH SPEAKS POSSIP.ILJTIKSI OF TRADE IMPRESSIONS OP RUSSIA (From a Special Correspondent) LONDON, May 7. The following is the text of an address given by ihe Hon. Walter Nash, New Zealand's Minister of Finance, when speaking on broadcast from .Moscow just as .May Day was chimed

"Greetings to listeners. Good morning, New Zealand. May Day is opening. lam speaking from Moscow. Here the clocks have just chimed midnight on the turn from April 30 to Mtiy 1. "Following upon trade discussions in Berlin 1 came to Moscow last week, the reason for my visit being to discuss the possibilities of trade now and in the future between this vast country and New Zealand.

"-My arrival followed visits from trade representatives of other countries and Sir E. D. Simon, previously .Parliamentary Secretary of the British Ministry of Health whose book, just published, 'Moscow in the Making,' written in collaboration with Lady Simon and Professors Robson and J'cwkes, should be road by everyone who desires to understand the circumstances, problems, and difficulties of administration and reconstruction of Moscow. Scope for Trade in Russia "The size of the country and its importance can be understood by mentioning that if covers one-sixth of the earth's surface. Its population exceeds 170 millions. The births total from 3,000,000 .to -1,000,01)1) every year. Twice as many persons are born every year in Russia as the total present population of New Zealand. "If is a country which obviously cannot be neglected from the viewpoint of trade, or indeed from any point of view. At present the possibilities of much trade between New Zealand and Russia are limited, but they are worth while. 1 thought that before coming here. My opinion has been confirmed and strengthened during the discussions.

"The discussions with the Commissar of Foreign Trade, Mr, Rosenheim (Commissar corresponds to Minister) and his experts have all been very frank and hopeful. 1 have had discussions .with the Commissar of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Litvinoff, whom 1 hail already met at Geneva in January ;rwith Mr. Grinko, the Commissar of Finance; and with many oilicials and others.

••[ have also seen a little of Moscow and the country about if; not nearly enough to pretend to be any authority but enough lo have a few impressions, A City Being Remade "Coming on the train arid in the city itself one is struck by the great tasks still to be achieved. Equally, one is struck by the courage ami Die enthusiasm with which the tasks are being tackled. The people seem to bo happy, hopeful and active'. There is a freedom of spirit that :s splendid. The people, as I have seen them, give the impression that they are individually making a contribution towards solving Russia's problems and building a new life within ths-r own country.

"Moscow, for instance, is a city t!m: is being remade. ft may take nu'.uy years to remak'j it.

"One interesting example is u ur cm ground railway nine miies iu length. Beautiful :ix design and appeniunce, it was conshoeted in re-co.-1 time. Some of iho labour w..t voiinlary—workers devotiug then time, unpaid, during the fi'-o period uttxr the regular day's woric was completed.

'•J have also diseased trade, workirg conditions, waejos, jrices, arid social insurance with Mr. Sohyoruik—the General Secretary of Trade TJnioi.s with a membership of 25,000,000. The hours worked vary DOtwoon six to seven per day—for .'ive days oui of six—the sixth day ahvayi being a free day. Calculated on the so.en Jay per week basis the hours worked "ere are slightly in. excess of the forty-hour week in New Zealand. "Keeping in mind that, until the last few years this country knew little of mechanisation, and that it Ims started with untrained personnel, the progress has been remarkable. Working efficiency may not be fully up to Western but that real progress is being made is illustrated by The fact that whilst standing for 10 minutes at the end of the assembly line in a motor plant, I saw three motor trucks completed, tested and |certified fit for road use. The out[put of motor trucks in this plant is now 150 per day. Output Multiplied Fourfold "Total industrial and agricultural production increased four-fold between the vears 1928 and 19:',(i. This means that "actual output of commodities was multiplied by four. "Material efficiency and production are, however, not enough. This is recognised here. Every person 1 have talked with has emphasised the new activities and value in educational, social and cultural work. Iho schools, the children, the theatre and employment security are all given special places. "One particular activity which I spent, some hours examining was at Bolsliovo. Bolshevo is a town 10 miles from Moscow and here 1 spent two inspiring hours, it is an industrial town of 12,000 inhabitants, a largo section of the population—about 4oOU —being ex-convicts or probationers awaiting final release. Many of the men and women are married and have families and relatives in Bolshevo, where a life of useful work and participation in administrative control of the town provides the background for rot urn to ordinary citizenship. "The advantages which Bolshevo oilers to the ex-convict are such that many men discharged from prison apply to .join the community where mutual trust and common responsibility are the basic principles of bio. Living in Bolshevo involves no special restraints, ami residents may find employment, in the various factories ot the town at the general wages standi ard or in Moscow a few miles away.

Sport, Education and Arts “Facilities are provided for sport, education and cultural arts and the evidences of a prosperous and happy community are everywhere to be seen. Two of the residents of the town were reeontly selected to be members of a representative Russian football team which visited other European cities.

"May I emphasise to my own people and other listeners that the progress of the world is dependent on the promotion of peace between the nations. The peace of the world is dependent upon nations understanding each other. Understanding' is only possible through knowledge of the problems, peoples and circumstances not only of our own country, but of all countries.

"Knowledge and understanding are the imperative needs to establish peace, through which alone progress can be achieved.

"It is not necessary to agree with all the methods adopted and procedure followed in any country before admiring that country's effort to solve its own immediate problems in its own way and appreciating the progress it has made.

"1 cannot end this talk without saying how grateful we are for the courtesy, the attention and the friendliness with which 1 and those with mo have been received in Moscow. We have been free to go where we like, to see what we like, to ask what questions we like And wo have taken advantage of this freedom. We have seen enough to make us admire tho spirit in which Russia's tremendous tasks nrc being attacked. "Now, or in a little under 24 hours time, I am leaving on the return for London, and I am duo there the day before Mr. Savage's arrival, when I will meet him to discuss all our problems and proposals before the Imperial Comerence. Good morning."