THE FAMILIES OF THE RUSSIAN RESERVES.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 8, 24 November 1877, Page 3

THE FAMILIES OF THE RUSSIAN RESERVES.

THE Russians (says the •Times"} are beginning to feel one of the great inconveniences of the system of Mineral service. The reserve men leave behind them families which have somehow to be supported, and people are anxiously inquiring whence this support is to come. Fortunately the Russians have, for the last dozen years or so, possessed an institution called the " Zemstvo "■—a word which cannot be translated into English, French, or German, but which means as nearly as possible " Assembly of the Land," or Lan-tag, or Diet; and it is upon the Zemstvo th.it the duty is to be thrown of providing for the families of reservists under arms. In each Zemstvo peasants, town inhabitants, and landed proprietors are represented, and there is a Zemstvo for each large district, as there is a Zemstvo for each of the provinces or "governments" into which Russia is divided—theprovineial Zemstvo being composed of members elected, class by class, from among the members of the various Zeuistvos in such province. Now the Zemstvo of Simbirsk had, at their last meeting, to take cognisance of the fact that the Simbirsk province had sent 3,000 reservists to the army, mid that out of this number 2,020' were married, and had altogether 2,000 children. Of the wives, UOO, with 1,500 children, were living in their own houses ; while 1,120, with I+oß children, were living with relations. The wives left by themselves are for the most part without resources, and nearly all are in want of assistance. It is supposed that the various Zeinstvos, which are empowered to raise money for local purposes, will levy a tax for the benefit of reservists' wives, especially of those whose husbands may havu been killed.