Cost of Living

In Russia the prices are fixed according to the world's market price, and the goods are sold to the people at cost price after adding} small amount for a reserve fund.

The result has been to reduce the cost of living in Russia. As private trade is now allowed they have to compete against the capitalist and prevent people from being fleeced. Recently at Nijni Novgorod a private trader was selling rice at Roubles 6.50 per pood, and the Centrosoyus came in and cold the same rice for Roubles 3.60 and yet had a profit of 50 kapoks per pood left. This foreed the private trader to reduce his price, n 1923 there was a good harvest ud therefore the people were able buy goods. Trade was good but more goods were produced than the people could, purchase and! therefore there was a large ssu left over at the end of the year. This surplus consisted—prineipally of textiles, tobacco, oil and. india rubber. The result was a financial and the Centrosoyus had to blamed the Centrosoyus the Soviet refused credit and declined to assist. It is admitted that mistakes have been made but it is denied that ce-operative societies have been a failures

Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.