the ruling fraction answered it by a question: “where is the money for such
in increase to come from”? In connection with this, the opposition, in the
document already mentioned, asks Stalin's fraction: “And were is one to
take the money from for the realization of the 7 hours working day?
if it is to be carried out without a reduction of the workmen’s wages, it
would cost the industry and transport about 550 millions roubles yearly.
[f we are able to get these sums, it would be better to ask the workmen
themselves for what purpose the money is to be used first: for an increase
in wages, building of new lodgings or for the realization of the 7 hours
vorking day’'®).
The Soviet Government admits that the introduction of the 7-hours
working day is not possible without great financial sacrifices on the part
>f the industry and the State. Thus, in his report read in Moscow on the
ist of December 1927, Kraval protested only against the figure — 500 mill.
roubles, indicated by the opposition, and maintained that this expense would
not exceed 180 mill. roubles.
At the same meeting the Chairman-communist Mantzew emphasised
once more that the decree on the introduction of the 7-hours working day
is of the great importance for the propaganda abroad:
“The 7-hours working day is first of all a slogan in the struggle
of the workmen class. Being realized by us in practice it evokes great
sympathies among the proletariat of the West; it is the sharp limit which
separates Socialistic Society from the capitalistic one, being a stage in the
hange of the economic form of the whole world. But the practical
realization of the problem of the 7-hours working day meets naturally
with great difficulties.”
In his speech made in Kharkov at the Ukraine Conference of the
communistic party**), Rykow touched upon the sorest point of the workers
question in Soviet Russia — the unemployment which exceeded 2.000.000
people In the year 1927. We shall later return to this topic.
Speaking of the plan of development of the national economy worked
out by the Soviet government for the period of the next five years, Rykow
said: —
‘T did not think it right to present to the party for discussion the five
years plan, i. e. such a plan of development of the economy, according to
vhich unemployment would continue to increase in the course of the next
years... In the struggle with the unemployment and with the over-popu-
lation of the rural districts, together with all other measures, a consider
able part will be played by the 7-hours working day’.
*) Counter-theses of the opposition. Pravda No. 263, 17th November, 1927
**) See Economicheskaia Jisn No. 270, November 26th, 1027.
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