ABSTRACT
As regards material conditions for the masses, I think it can no longer be contested that throughout the ten years of the Communist experiment steady progress has been made, and that the outlook is at any rate hopeful. The peasants are at last in actual, if not nominal, possession of the land, and this age long desire of their hearts is fulfilled. The workers have far shorter hours, women’s wages are far higher, men’s wages in some cases already higher, in others lower than before the Revolution; but loss in this respect is partly set off by numerous advantages gained under the Social Insurance system. (Of these, unemployment benefit, holidays with pay, ‘rest homes’ and free medical treatment are among the chief.) One should also mention the equalization of housing facilities, and of opportunities of education and advancement both for adults and children. Information on these and a great many similar points is easy to obtain, and I need not give more details here.
