difficult and laborious work. Yet it has to
be done, and as I very often stood for a moment
and looked at those who were doing
this work, however unaccustomed they were
for the job, I do not think anybody was injured.
It is not only in snow cleaning that
women and girls work on terms of equality
with men. They are on an equal footing in
the Unions and in all industries are paid the
same wages as men, being allowed the privilege of producing 15 per cent. less than
men. Maternity benefit consists of eight
weeks’ holiday on full pay before and after
childbirth, extra food and nourishment during
those weeks, and extra food afterwards if the
baby is nursed. I do not believe that anywhere
else in the world women are so free and so respected and cared for as in Russia.
One problem which was rather difficult of solution was that of holidays. Under the old regime there were innumerable holidays connected with the Church. The Soviet Government rules out all interference with the Church and religion in order to prevent dissatisfaction. All workers are given the choice of ten working days a year on which they may, if they desire, keep holiday. In addition the Bolsheviks have set apart eight days including May Day as national holidays, so there are eighteen separate holidays in a year. Besides these, the workers are allowed two weeks’ holiday a year,
