LOW PRODUCTION CONDEMNED BY RED LEADER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17854, 24 May 1926, Page 5

LOW PRODUCTION CONDEMNED BY RED LEADER.

M. RYKOFF OUTLINES DRASTIC SCHEMES TO MAKE SOVIET MINES PROFITABLE. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.—“ The Times ” Service. (Received May 2-1, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 23. The Riga correspondent of "* “ The Times ” says that the outstanding feature at the Soviet Miners’ Congress was M. Rykoff’s speech condemning small productivity. He outlined drastic measures to make the mines profitable, including at least a ten per cent all round increase in the working day, and a campaign against absenteeism, which was largely due to increasing drunkenness since the removal of the vodka restrictions. Referring to malorganisation, M. Rykoff declared that some of the miners, although underground for seven hours, spent three of them idly. He emphasised the necessity of restoring discipline in the ranks of Labour, which must strictly observe employers’ terms of contract, and said that State enterprises must dismiss superfluous hands.