OVERTY was abolished in the Soviet Union long ago; our country has no unemployed, no people who are not ensured a minimum livelihood or who lack the most important condi- tions for normal life.

United Nations and UNESCO publications, among others, will confirm that the average consumption of mater- ial goods and service standards in the USSR approximates those of the most developed and richest countries of the West.

Indeed, in a number of important items, the standard is even higher.

The Soviet Union has, for instance, the world’s most advanced social in- surance and social security systems and health service.

It is worth recalling the level from which the Soviet Union began its advance. :

In 1921, the country’s economy was in ruins, exhausted by four years of world war followed by three years of civil war.

Then began the period of restoration and the five-year plans, the epoch of socialist industrialization and collectiv-

’ ization of agriculture.

By 1940, the real incomes of factory and office workers were already in- creased nearly 175% over the pre- revolutionary level. And farmers’ or peasants’ incomes had reached an in- crease of 133% more than in 1917. Unemployment, poverty and agrarian overpopulation had been abolished.

But the need for swift economic ad- vance had slowed down progress in other fields. The Soviet state was not, for instance, able to develop housing on an adequate scale in order to keep pace with the swift growth of the ur- ban population. At that time the living space per urban dweller was only about 63 square feet—equivalent to a tiny room less than eight feet square.

On the other hand, by the end of the thirties a cultural revolution had spread throughout the USSR, as the wealth of human culture and science was made available to all nationalities,

- large and small. Literacy rose from the pre-revolutionary 33% to 87.4%. One “citizen in four was studying.

Medical care became accessible to all. Average longevity rose from 32 years to over 47 years.

The infant mortality rate in the first year of life fell to 182 out of 1,000. The number of doctors increased to one for every 1,300.

Then, in 1941, Hitler Germany at- tacked. The war took a toll of 20 mil- lion Soviet lives and demolished 1,710 towns and villages.

It took three years just to regain the prewar level of production.

And today? :

MAt present the real incomes of fac- tory and office workers are 200% above the 1940 level and farmers’ incomes nearly 425% higher.

Housing construction proceeds on a gigantic scale, with about 2,300,000 new flats being built annually (the United States builds a little over 1.5 million). Average living space has nearly doubled as a result.

Although this is still nat all that is required, one thing is important: new housing is distributed evenly, priority given to those in actual need. There-

Ce

snlindell oearalal

Libis sth —— rare eee Yeo ewe ae m

tion,

apartments each year.

is free. The son of a Soviet minister and the son of a worker have absolutely equal opportuni- ties to receive an educa--

Education

Housing construction pro- ceeds on a gigantic scale with about 2,300,000 new being

built

\

"Our goal is to fully satisfy all the material and spiritual needs of man"

From Poverty To Secutity

fore millions of people have moved from less convenient to more com- fortable flats.

Another highly important point — rent absorbs only 3 to 4% of the aver- age family budget. The state bears the expense of construction and a consider- able part of maintenance costs.

1975 is the next milestone. By then the country’s

Today, the entire population is liter- ate and 326 out of every 1,000 study.

There is one doctor to every 362 of population (in Britain it was one per 658 in 1965).

Average longevity is now 70 years. Infant mortality has again been sharpl: reduced.

national income will have

risen 37-40%) above that of 1970. There are no unemployed and there never will

be any.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1971—PAGE 10

' + multiply these resources t0

- of: man.

All these facts are eloquent. But 4 can hardly convey the beneficial s¢ climate enjoyed by every Soviet 14

Every Soviet citizen is ensure in accordance with his skill. ati

There are no unemployed, 4” never will be any.

Men at 60 and women at 55 get age pensions which enable them ink without want and without res? anyone’s help.

Education as free, and the mT Soviet minister and the son of 4 fd have absolutely equal opportu® receive an education. A

All types of medical help # and accessible. fig

We have given only average “t of course, but average figures — different conditions can tell vas ferent stories.

The USSR has neither milliot nor people in poverty. Distribu wealth according to work iné leads to substantial incomes. © in

The present level of well De 2 the USSR is only the start—fu vances will be made. The § is doing everything it can ad more completely the material 4 itual needs of man. Not a Very task. : ide

First, present needs are cons higher than the real economic ties of satisfying them.

Second, au needs themselves constantly multiplying.

There is only one wy ou tain the country’s hig growth rates, to raise the effi production, to produce a quality products, above all © goods. ‘

These are the tasks the omb Year Plan is called upon to a¢

We realistically assess Wh —and in some respects adm ig tive modesty of our present ig

a We try to utilize as ral. possible the available reso

on the other hand, we do ore

en closer to the level of our pre?

future needs.

Jes! The year 1975 is our ney Le A

set by the 24th Party pi 1975 the country’s national a of have risen 37-40% above tha of Three quarters of that SUF | for direct consumption, WH! itt crease by 40% as compared © Taking into account te of growth, this will mean a7 ita. third in real income per C4P™ But that isn’t all. : q About 40% of the remaining. ( of the national income also & 2 po ly to satisfy the needs 0 tion. ss From those resources thé 197 build, in the five years © 60 enough flats to house 50

people. 5, 0 Thousands of new schools. |

theaters and hospitals will © ssi

These are our plans, our What about our needs? entific In this age of swift 80° hort

technological progress, t = ne?

needs are satisfied the m0

are born. . aan The pace of the country e, e

growth must outstrip thes? «jy!

needs, because our goal is situa i

fy all the material and SP co

«News #¥ +.