THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8065, 27 November 1906, Page 3

THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.

STARVING PEASANTS. SALE OF GIRLS. ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 20. A contract amounting to many millions of roubles to supply starving peasants wi f h bread, was give.i to the proprietor of gambling houses, who obtained advances ai.ionnting to eighty thousand sterling and delivered little rye. The starvation in the Volga district is so acute that peasants are publicly selling their daughters. Eight girls in one village, ranging in age from twelve to seventeen were sold for from twelve to fifieeu pounds each. The majority were sent to the Caucasus and it is believed they were intended for Turkish harems. PROVISIONS OP A UKASE. THE MINISTERIAL MAJORITY. ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 20. The ukase cabled on the 22nd October, abolishing in January the obl ; 'Mtory character of village communes, has been issued. It enables peasants to become freeholders of allotments made at the date of emancipation, the redemption dues thereon ceasing everywhere at the end of December. Those reforms required the Douma's ratification. LONDON, November 20. The Times' St. Petersburg correspondent says that while there is no reason to apprehend opposition on this point, the prospects of the ministerial majority dwindling owing to the system of repression are unexampled, even in Plehve's days.