FALL FROM COMMUNISM.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19450, 14 December 1934, Page 9

FALL FROM COMMUNISM.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Mr F. J. Hall is surely most inconsistent. He denies that Russia has retreated from Communism, and yet he states that "borrowing and lending can .only belong to private capitalism.” As a matter of fact borrowing and lending has been going on in Russia and recognised by the State for some time past —(a) The Stale invites subscriptions to loans and pays 10 per cent. Interest; (b) the State Bank of the U.S.S.R. advertises for money on deposit at from 0 per cent, to 8 per cent, per annum-TT-lpter'est paid on current accounts. This advertisement can he seen in the Moscow Daily News of February 10, 1933. Thus on Mr Hall’s own statement quoted above the fall of Communism has been complete in the case of borrowing and lending, if it is essentially capitalistic.-

Lenin laid down that payment according to the work done, and not according to the need of the recipient, was essentially capitalistic. Stalin introduced payment according to work d o ne—l.e., pieoe work —in 1930, and by so doing fell from the Communist theory' to a practice “essentially oapitallstio.” Whatever -may be the ultimate outcome of the Soviet experiment, there can be no denial, on the facts, that Communism was tried and did not work, so they have gone over to State oapitalism. Communists of course say this is only a transitional phase as preliminary to final Communism. Tlits may be so, but the fact remains that so far there has been a definite abandonment of Communism as a policy.

Owing to the different scales of wages paid, and growth of a class receiving Interest on money lent (i.e., borrowed by some one else or the State) the vision of a classless society is becoming very dim. There Is class distinction in Russia and also a privileged class. In writing the above we are not criticising the state of affairs in Russia;, that is thoir business and no one else’s. We merely wish to show that local Communists are misrepresenting facts when they advocate Communism in New Zealand on the strength of its alleged success In Russia. It has failed there as it must fail everywhere until human nature itself becomes perfeot.—We are etc., N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE. Wellington, December 12, 1934.