FREEDOM IN RUSSIA

Southland Times, Issue 25478, 26 September 1944, Page 3

FREEDOM IN RUSSIA

Sir, —The letter signed “New Order” was away from the point. I merely stated that Russia has known freedom and is a real democracy, the object being to correct any wrong impressions which might have been formed by your leading article. But I did not say which country enjoyed the most freedom. Readers will be able to judge for themselves. Countries which have economic freedom—that is, freedom of the means of production and distribution—cannot have freedom from want, or freedom from fear for the people, because production is not planned, but goods are produced according to demand, which is very fickle and does not always meet the true requirements of the people, such as during periods of depression. There is no guaranteed freedom from fear for the people where minority ownership of the means of production and distribution exists, as is proved by the various countries during the first 12 months of the war. France collapsed through the corruption of the ruling class, who preferred to collaborate with the fascists, rather than risk any social change which might endanger their privileged position. During the months prior to the outbreak of war, British firms exported to Germany one-third of our rubber stocks, onefourth of our supplies of nickel. After the outbreak of war these firms still placed their own personal gain ahead of the security of their country, continuing to export to “neutral” Italy goods that were later used against us in their war effort by both Germany and Italy. Further, the workers of Australia were compelled to load scrap iron for Japan, after having refused to do so, even at the risk of their families going short of rations. REAL DEMOCRACY.