THE CAUSES OF FAMINE IN RUSSIA 39
the Communist Party on April 19,1935, dealing with the work
of the Kombajny (combined reaping machines). The decree
(published in Pravda of April 20, 1935) says: "Hitherto the
Kombajny have been working intolerably badly both on the
Soviet grain farms and at the machine tractor stations. The
People's Commissariat for Agriculture of the S.S.S.R. and that
for the administration of the Soviet farms omitted to organize
the practical application and utilization of the Kombajny. They
keep the Kombajny in a poor state and take little trouble about
the training and maintenance of efficient Kombajny mechanics."
The false system of accountancy used in the State grain farms
—directly counter to Government instructions—led to Kom-
bajny mechanics, who fell far short of the daily standard of
work, only too often being better paid than those who
exceeded this standard by doing more work in a shorter
time.
In order to increase the yield of the Kombajny, Moscow has
been compelled to revert to capitalist principles and to cause
Kombajny mechanics to have the highest possible material
interest in increasing the yield of their machines. On this point
the Pravda leader says: "Kombajny mechanics must be given
the greatest possible interest in the efficient working of their
• machines, and in their not being run at a loss."
The same reasons account for the crisis in another important
branch upon whose smooth working the success of industries
and agriculture in Russia largely depends. Here again the
Russian press continues to publish the most incredible reports.
They have to admit almost daily that the chief blaine rests with
funkzionalka> and here again the competent delegates at the
Moscow Communist Congress have provided ample confirma-
tion. It is particularly the case with the river traffic, especially
on the greatest Russian river system of waterways, the Volga
and its tributaries. A special correspondent despatched by
Pravda to the Volga early in 1934 sent :&om Gorky (formerly
Nizhni-Novgorod) a report which calls for no comment He