REFORMS IN RUSSIA

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19586, 27 May 1935, Page 3

REFORMS IN RUSSIA

PROLETARIAT AND PEASANTRY. TIIE WAR ARGUMENT. (London Times Riga Correspondent.) The turn of the year has brought many changes in Soviet Russia, changes of political and economic importance. Some were expected, having been prepared and foreshadowed in speeches throughout 1934; but the latest reforms' came as a surprise even for most members of the Communist Party. Taken altogether the changes seem lo herald, a shifting by the party of ils point d’appui, or a broadening of its base lo embrace the peasants on a footing of equality with the hitherto privileged industrial workers. The series of reforms began on January 1, when bread cards were abolished, together with rationing of the chief articles of food. Industrial workers are now obliged to buy at tlie open State shops on the same terms as all other citizens. To compensate them for this loss of privilege their wages have been increased by about 10 per cent. For non-proletarian citizens the abandonment of the ration system is a distinct gain, as the prices of products in the open market have been reduced; for industrial workers Hie gain is not apparent.

Electoral Privileges. The second great retreat from Bolshevist principle, announced unexpectedly in February, was a decision to extend the full suffrage to the peasantry, thus depriving town dwellers of the electoral privileges granted them by the Soviet Constitution. This is of enormous importance. If really put into effect as outlined by the official resolutions it must give the peasantry a preponderance in the councils of the Government. The peasant population (adults and children) of the Soviet Union is officially stated to be some 127,000,000, the townsfolk being 40,000,000. Hitherto town dwellers have elected to the supreme organ of government, one delegate for every 25,000 electors, the peasants electing only one delegate for every 125,000 inhabitants in their electoral divisions. Party leaders have followed the announcement of electoral reform with more tangible concessions to the peasantry. Members of collective farms are to be allowed larger plots of land for private cultivation and more cattle. The plots may vary from threequarters of an acre to about three acres; eacli peasant household in the grain areas may have one cow, some calves, sheep, pigs, and unlimited poultry and rabbits. In pastoral regions the number of cattle which may ho kept for private use is greatly increased.

Payment by Results.

In previous years since the enforcement of the Five-Year Plan the spring has been a season of promises for the peasants. This year the promises seem to be a more serious bid for the peasants’ loyalty and support against potential enemies from abroad and counter-revolutionaries within the Soviet Union. Whether Bolshevist leaders believe the danger of attack Is so r.eal as they depict it is a moot point. They have, placed the propagation of tills Idea in the centre of their rural •programme, and the Introduction of every new reform, however unimportant, is coupled with an invocation to the love of his native country in every peasant’s breast. The success of the present reforms depends on the peasants’ fattli in their sincerity.

Sony; improvements are being made in paying peasants for their labour on collcctvc farms. What remained of the system of equality of payment has been condemned and abandoned. Payment m money and in kind is to depend on p'siills.

The pivelieo. of payment by results is an adaptation of the new Soviet system of laciory wages. Little lias remained of llui original Bolshevist or Socialist principles in regard to labour and wages; individualism lias supplanted i olleelivism wherever possible.