LIFE IN DEATH.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1924, Page 6

LIFE IN DEATH.

CONDITIONS IN RUSSIA DISEASE RIFF By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyritbt. London, Sept. 16. The Daily Chronicle’s special correspondent in Russia, describing the conditions of the bourgeoise, says it is a veritable life in death. To save fuel several families herd together in a single flat, sick and healthy sleeping in the same bed. Many live on black bread and potatoes. Only 10 per cent, of the town population is free from tuberculosis owing to bad sanitation. The water supply in Petrograd under the low pressure does not reach the upper stories of the houses, and the sewerage is dumped into the river. Typhus has largely disappeared, but malaria is raging. There were four million cases last year. The average salary of the intelligentsia is 15s weekly; professors receive 14«. Men of high distinction are slaving themselves to death, giving extra lectures and writing books in order to double the salary of 14sA famous actor may get 40« weekly. A musical composer of world fame at the Conserve torium is a!4o earning 40s. The best paid members of the intelligentsia are the so-called specialists in the civil service, who may earn £44 to £BB monthly. Everybody tried to become a specialist until 30 per cent, of the civil service were so-called specialists. A rigorous combing out then took place as the State was threatened with bankruptcy, and officials are now being dismissed wholesale. Recently 30,900 students of the bourgeois class were expelled from the universities.