Russian local government during the war and the Union of Zemstvos

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 1794855874

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-179223

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Polner, Tichon I. http://d-nb.info/gnd/172311195

Title:: Russian local government during the war and the Union of Zemstvos

Place of publication:: New Haven

Publisher:: Yale Univ. Press

Year of publication:: 1930

Scope:: XXV, 317 S.

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter VIII. Assistance to farming

Collection:: Economics Books

ASSISTANCE TO FARMING 153 Student Farm-Labor Squads. The second task, that of combating the general reduction of the cultivated area, required a much broader organization and necessi- tated, in the first place, the bringing in of labor from other sections of the country. It seemed as if this demand for labor might be satis- fied by the organization of undergraduates, prisoners of war, and refugees as labor squads, as well as by using the troops stationed in the interior of the country. The student farm-labor squads were organized in many places partly on the initiative of the school authorities and partly on that of the students themselves. The Minister of Education, in a spe- cial ordinance encouraged such enterprises. After the approval of the movement by the Emperor himself, the formation of student labor squads acquired in the eyes of the school authorities an almost obligatory character. In the majority of instances these squads were organized in the schools, transported to their destination, and main- tained at the expense of the zemstvos. They were put to work according to the instructions of village assemblies, volost relief com- mittees, codperative societies, etc., and were under the general su- pervision of the zemstvo agronomic staffs. Results varied according to the personal qualifications of those in charge. It was found by experience that the greatest benefit was obtained from the work of those squads which were equipped with machines, as well as with skilled mechanics for their proper handling, and which were placed under the direct control of zemstvo agronomists. Often, however, individuals sent out from the squad for work in this or that par- ticular peasant household performed their duties successfully. At first the peasants looked askance upon these young people and in some places even received them with good-natured mockery. Gradu- ally, however, they became used to the innovation, fully appreciat- ing the eagerness of the lads to help them in an emergency. The result was a steadily increasing demand for their services, and we find in zemstvo reports references to truly touching farewells ar- ranged in the villages on the departure of these youthful friends of the peasantry. As a rule, student squads were quartered in the buildings of the zemstvo schools, and fed partly at zemstvo expense and partly with provisions given direct by the peasants. Their work in most cases

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