RETAIL TRADE IN THE USSR AND THE SHORTCOMINGS OF TRADE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE PERIOD OCTOBER 1952-JANUARY 1953

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700160408-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 8, 2011
• Sequence Number: 408
• Publication Date: March 9, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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COUNTRY USSR
SUBJECT Economic - Retail trade
HOW
PUBLISHED Daily newspapes; monthly periodical
WHERE
PUBLISHED USSR
DATE
PUBLISHED 13 Sep 1952-Mar 1953
LANGUAGE Russian
u?n.ys.. rr., r..e .c., u. . r ..un...,
?,o rr u or r, coot. a ...aom. . r ? rimer e..nr.
n o.,or ~ a co,r.rrs ro o ..c u., n ., w?m, uao ..
..
DATE OF
INFORMATION 1952-1953
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
RETAIL TRADE IN THE USSR AND TEE SHORTCCDtINGS OF TRADE
ORGANIZATIONS IN. THE PERIOD OCTOBER'1952_ ANY 1953
In January 1953, Trud reported that the USSR leather and footwear industry
was developing over 3 000 sam les f f
t
' p o
fabrics of new patterna.(3)r~~~~~~ yu yrouuue a total or 17 million meters of
approve
many new m o consumer
tureA among them were new fabrics manufact
ured byatheeBol'shaya Iva ovska; fea-
'faktura, Trekhgornaya Manufaktura a,M1.4..e .-_-. __ a Ivanvskay8 Manu-
alone.(2) s a e and cooperative trade in 1952
Izvestiva reported in December 1952 that the Council of Experts of the All-
Union Chamber of commerce had
d
than 178,000 units, of which - ~---..a ',,'prises in the USSR increased by more
97,000 were stores.(1)
As reported by the periodical Sovetskaya ICnizhnaya Toraovlva approximately
7,000 new stores were put into operation in t t
L4~ment: The following report is a compilation by r~Ublics of infbrmation
from articles dealing with retail trade in sou UmPr goods and services
in the USSR which appeared in the Soviet press between October 1952 and
January 1953. While stressing the improvement and expansion of retail
trade, the newspapers continued to criticize the trade organizations
for poor service, fraudulent treatment of customers, and acceptance of
low-grade Products from industry.
Numbers in parentheses refer to appended sources]
oo
wear. Some 300 new styles had already
been.
put into: production. The output of men-s thick leather sandals in 1953 was
to be twice'as great as in 1952. while the 195
3
1
.1 -ill-On pairs.
--
50X1-HUM
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CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS
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were designing 68o new styles for their products,Lincludingo170ynewostylesuofrneck-
ties. More than 3 million neckties were to be produced in 1953.
The RSFSR porcelain and pottery industry is also expanding, according to Trud.
There is a greater selection of dishware, and household items are of better qual
ity.(4)
According to Vechern a a Moskva of 29 January 1953, the retail commodity turn-
over in Moscow in 1952 increased 2 percent over 1950. Sales of meat products,
fats, silk fabrics, television sets, etc. increased considerably. The Fifth Five-
Year Plan envisages the opening of 300 stores and 125 public eating enterprises
in Moscow, as well as the construction of four large department stores(univermags),
one of which will be three to four tires as large as the present Central Department
Store. In 1952, a great deal of work was done toward expanding the trade network.
By 1953, 117 consolidated stores were to be put into operation, allowing improved
service to the consumer and reducing distribution expenditures. The article con-
tinued its discussion of the Moscow trade network as follows: Specialization of
Moscow's trade networl? was the most important measure undertaken in 1952. During
the last three years, C1950 through 19527 218 new food stores were put into oper-
ation. However, the network of public dining rooms and lunch counters and snack
bars, although considerably expanded, is still insufficient. The Ministry of
Trade USSR, the Division of Public Dining of the Moscow City Executive Committee,
and "Mosglavrestoran" (Moscow Main Administration of Restaurants) are responsible
for this situation. The operation of many public dining rooms of "Mosglavrestoran"
is extremely unsatisfactory.
The trade network and public eating enterprises frequently violate the rules
of Soviet trade. Industrial trade enterprises of light, local, and cooperative
industry continue to deliver to the trade network commodities of inferior quality.
In 1952, there were 2,476 registered complaints about the inferior quality pro-
ducts of certain enterprises-(5)
In another January 1953 article, Vechernyaya Moskva reported that Moscow trade
organizations fulfilled the 1952 plan for retail commodity turnover on 27 Decem-
ber 1952, ahead of schedule. During the remaining days of 1952, they sold over
half a million rubles of commodities. In 1952, as compared with 1950, the sale
of meat products increased 86 percent, animal fats 76 percent, silk fabrics 73
percent, and knitwear 50 percent. The consumers received 70 percent more cul-
tural goods, such as television sets and clocks, than in 1950.
The paper then discussed the consolidation and specialization program of the
Moscow trade network as follow:
Until recently, Moscow had a large number of very small trade enterprises
which were crowded together in inconvenient locations. All this prevented effi-
cient service to consumers. Many of these stures were operating unprofitably.
The first steps toward the consolidation of small stores were successful; the
retail commodity turnover increased sharply and administrative expenditures
were reduced. This effected a saving into the wage fund, decreased distri-
bution expenditures, and increased accumulation. The consolidation of small
stores is continuing. Fifty consolidated stores with improved facilities have
already been put into operation. Consolidation of more than 100 stores is still
in progress.
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However, the consolidation and specialization program of the trade network
still has serious shortcomings. Of 83 stores which were to be consolidated in
1952, only 50 were put into operation, and of 77 planned specialized stores,
only 62 were actually opened. Especially unsatisfactory was the performance of
the Moscow Administration of Industrial Trade Organizations. Of 30 trade areas
assigned to the administration, stores were opened in only 14 areas and with
long delay past the established date. The new Fifth Five-Year Plan set the
gheoalnewlyOf
areas stores
public eating enterprises in
of Moscow.{6)
According to Izvestiva, of 21 November 1952, Moscow had more than 100
specialized stores for the sale of housewares, furniture, and other goods (7)
As reported by Vechernyava Mockv in November 1952, the "Gastronom" Store
No 1 had a large daily turnover of food commodities as follow: meat, 6 tons;
sausage, 3.5 tons; butter, 3 tons; sugur, 4 tons; 70,000 eggs; fruit, more
than 4 tons. Other products, including fruit from the Crimea and Central Asia,
canned goods from Riga, fish from Astrakhan', pastries, candies and other deli-
cacies, were also available there. In addition, the store was taking orders for
delivery to many places in the city, sometimes filling as many as 350 orders
daily.(3)
Vechernyava Moskva also reported that the "Pishchetorg" Store No 16 of
Zheleznodorozhnyy Rayon had the following products in stock, as of October 1952:
herring from the Far East, canned meat from Armavir, canned fruit from the Mol-
davian SSR and Odessa, various products from the Moscow Meat Combine, wine from
the Georgian, Armenian, and Tadzhik SSRs, and products of many other food t`nter-
w, and priceS. Inithe last few years, the demand for prepared fish. high-grade grape
the many hundreds aoftMoscow trade centerprises ddoing taylarge ivolumeeofsbusiness
daily. l9)
In a January 1953 article, Vechernyava Moskva stated that a first-class
bakery and confectionery store and a "Gastronom" store had been put into oper-
ation in Moscow. In only 2 years, 40 large stores were opened in Leoingradskiy
Rayon of Moscow. In one suburban area, where in 1950 there were only six trade
enterprises, at the beginning of 1953 there were 14 trade enterprises such as
bakeries, drug stores, manufactured goods stores, bookstores, a public dining
room, and a number of others. Previously, the whole trade network of some resi-
dential Areas consisted only of three stores, but by the beginning of 1953 there
time.; as many stores. For e
4
were
xample in Li
,enngradskiy Rayon, where in 1950 there
had been only three specialized stores, at the beginning of 1953 there were 2l stores,
They were put into operation by the "Bakaleya," "Gastronom," "Mosovosheh'"
osow Specialized Trade Organization for the Sale of extilebles2 ?
Moscow Specialized Trade Organization for the Sale of TextMos, and other til'
specialized trade organizations. Thq rayon's?retail commodity turnover increased
considerably. In 1951, it amounted to 940 million rubles, and in 1952 it
reached 1.2 billion rubles.(10)
Leningrad
According to Izvestiva of 3 January 1953, the USSR is on the road to cre-
ating an abundance of food and manufactured commodities and complete satisfaction
of consumer demand. For example, in Leningrad, gr quantities of the follow-
ing goods were sold in 1952 than in 1950: meat, 69 percent; animel fats, 66 per-
cent; dairy products, 40 percent; sausage products, 30 percent; silk and woolen
fabrics, 15 percent; and leather footwear, 20 percent. Considerablylmore pass-
enger cars, television sets, radio receivers, cameras, and bicycles were sold in
1952 than in 1950.
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Th
e article described the Leningrad trade network as f
100 trade and sales organizati
ollows: There are
b
a
out
on, and over 3,000 trade and public eatin
prises employing a great
e
t
b
g
n
er-
num
er of trade workers in Leningrad. Many store
undergone capital repairs
h
d
s
an
ave
are supplied with the necessary equipment and i
ventory. "Lenodezhad" Leni
n-
ngrad Specialized Trade Organization for the Sal
of Clothing77,"Lenobuv"' jt
i
en
e
ngrad Specialized Trade Organization for the S
of Footwear?/, and other stor
l
a
e
es are now able to meet the demands of Soviet trade.
Stalin
k
s
iy, Kirovskiy, Sverdlovskiy, Moskovskiy, and other rayons of Le
grad had smaller trade network
i
th
n
s
n-
an the central rayons. To improve service t
consumers in these rayons
the
t
,
o
s
ores and public dining rooms were expanded a
equipped with the latest machi
d
n
nery. In the newly built residential areas alone
104 manufactured goods and food
t
,
s
ores were put into operation in 1952. In
the city, stores trading in f
d
oo
commodities installed 632 refrigeration units.
Statin
th
g
at the assortment and quality of goods offered for sale in L
grad has also improved
Izvesti
i
,
en
n-
va continued: The Leningrad Meat Combine i
u
ced
new ass
t
o
meni
ment
and
packag ed
meat
and nowodeliversr
organizations 120 different pro-
ducts. In 1952, the confection
ery factories increased the assortment of can
dies, caramels, and cookies
R
.
-
egularly conducted conferences between consumer
and suppliers play an important
l
s
ro
goods.(11)
e in improving the quality and selection of
According to LeninR_ r`dskaya Pravda the network of s
Leningrad and Leningradskaya Oblast is expanding. In the last 3 ta3 yedrestores in
1949-December 1959, 548 stores and 177 public eating enterprises neneder
d
in Leningrad and Leningradskaya Oblast. Thenetwork ofspecialized stores
selling meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, groceries and special foods, footwear,
and ready-to-wear clothing was also expanded.(12)
According to a January 1953 article in Leningradskaya Pravda the output of
consumer goods in Leningrad is increasing. Leningrad local industry exceeded
the 1952 plan for consumer goods production by 72 million rubles, and completed
it 25 days ahead of schedule. The plants and factories of the local industry and
rayon industrial combines considerably increased the assortment of products.
Electric floor polishers, skates, and photographic equipment produced by Lenin-
grad enterprises appeared in the stores of the city. Leningrad local industry
produces commodities of more than 1,500 brand names. Leningrad Perfumery No 4
of Glavparfumer (Main Administration of the Perfume Industry) manufactures a
large quantity of perfumes for all parts of the USSR. The factory produces more
than 100,000 bottles of perfume and eau do cologne daily, and large quantities of
powder, cream, and tooth powder.
The Leningradskava Pravda article then made the following criticisms:
Whil
themestillthe
manufacture renough tofpthee commodities needed by theepop-
ulation. Consumers also continue to complain about the shortage of salad greens
and vegetables. Sovkhozes and kolkhozes of Leningradskaya Oblast are still slow
in expanding hotbed and greenhouse gardening.
upplyin g of stores and public dining rooms is often done without consider-
ation for the established retail commodity plan and consumer demand. Leningrad
sales office of Glavkonserv, (Main Administration of the Canning Industry),
Glaveybsbyt (Main Administration of Fish Sales), and Glavkonditer (Main Adminis-
tration of Confectionery Industry) do not supply Leningrad and Leningradskaya
Oblast with required commodities regularly. In the third quarter 1952 alone, 250
trade enterprises in Leningrad ended their operations with a deficit. Among them
were 146 enterprises of "Lenglavrestoran" (Leningrad Main
Administration of Rest-
aurants), 63 trade organizations of the Administration of Food Trade, and 19 enter-
prises of "Lenovoshch ," ZTeningrad Specialized Trade Organization for the Sale of
Vegetables?]
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Public dining rooms and small restaurants also have serious shortcomings.
Many enterprises of Nevskiy and Kirovskiy rayons reduced the number of public
dining rooms, and many plants' and factories' dining rooms offer poor service.
In Leningrad City and Leningradskaya Oblast there are more than 100,000 trade
workers. However, there are many shortcomings 1- the selection, distribution, and
training of personnel. Some trade workers in charge of materials and supplies in
the administrations of trade organizations, are dishonest, while the managers of
"ooi and manufactured goods trade organizations fail tc supervise the operation
of stores and public dining rooms-(13)
Othr.r CF-OR Cities and Oblasts
An Izvestiva report of December 1952 stated that greater quantities of the
following products were sold to the urban and rural population of Ivanovskaya
Oblast in 1952 than in 1951: bread, groats, butter sugar, and other food products;
as well as silk fabrics, ready-to-wear clothing, housewares, and cultural goods.
The trade network Increased by 768 enterprises over the prewar period. In 1952
alone, 265 specialized stores, stalls, tearooms, and dining rooms were opened in
the Oblast,
The article pointed, however, to many shortcomings in the organization of
trade and public eating enterprises which fail year after year to meet the plan
for retail commodity turnover. Ivanovo City and other industrial centers were
not supplied with potatoes and vegetables. The store employees shortchange and
short-weight the customers, an' the stores lack needed goods. The trade organ-
izations fail to study consumer demand and permit errors in the distribution of
commodities by rayons. For example, the Volga Region Trading Organization now
/Decemh-, 1952/ has 1.5 million rubles worth of slow-moving footwear and 579,000
rubles worth of hosiery in its warehouses. Shorts and summer shirts are delivered
during the winter season. The goods are kept in unsuitable warehouses and get
damaged. The managers of industrial and trade organizations also fall to observe
the government's decree on the conclusion of economic agreements. Even when such
agreements are made, they are not adhered to.(14)
Another lzy s va article reported that the trade network in the cities and
rural areas of Tomskaya Oblast continues to grow. In 1952, 130 new stores and
tents trading in manufactured and food commodities were opened. The trade turn-
over, in comparison with 1951 increased considerably. In 10 months of 1952, the
stores sold 15 million rubles worth of silk and woolen fabrics. The demand for
cultural goods increased sharply. City and rural dwellers acquired nearly
3,000 bicycles and motorcycles, as well as many radio receivers and phonographs.
Almost 1j times more books were sold than in the preceding year.(15)
Ukrainian SSR
According to a Pravda Ukraine article, the following new specialized stores
were opened in the Ukrainian SSR in the third quarter 1952: 22 stores selling
outer clothing, 17 fur and hat stores, 45 footwear stores, 4 stores selling mis-
cellaneous manufactured goods, etc.
In Stalinskaya Oblast, 15 specialized stores were opened; in Khar'kov, 9
stores; and in Voroshilovsk, 7 stores. Two republic trade organizations, "Ukrod-
ezhda" and "Ukrobuv"'LUkrainian specialized trade organization for the sale of
clothin'- and footwear? , opened stores in Dnepropetrovsk, Stalino, L'vov, ana
Odessa.(16)
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In a January 1953 article, Pravda Ukrainy discussed the constantly eand-
ing trade network in urban and rural areas of L'vovskaya Oblast, Ukrainian SSR,
where more and more premises are being turned over to stores, public dining
rooms, public tearooms, and lunchrooms. In 1952 alone, 70 new stores and de-
partment stores were put into operation in rural areas and rayon centers of the
oblast. In Velikomostovskiy Rayon, buildings were constructed for a new rayon
department store, a restaurant, and four stores. The construction of stores and
public eating enterprises was to expand even more in 1953. In the rayon centers
and rural areas of the obalst, over 100 buildings were to be constructed for the
trade network, including 5 rayon department stores, 26 rural stores, 4 cultural
goods stores, and 14 public tearooms and dining rooms.(17)
Another $avd_ +v article of January 1953 reported many deficiencies
in the organization of trade in Nikolayev, Ukrainian SSR. For example, at the
beginning of the 1952-1953 winter season, stores had irregular deliveries of
potatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, and other vegetables and fruits, despite the ex-
ceptionally rich harvest of vegetables and potatoes gathered by kolkhozes and
sovkhozes of the oblast. The city had no specialized stores for the sale of
vegetables and fruits.
The paper continued its criticism as follow: The city trade in bread and
bakery products is also poorly organized. The Nikolayev Bread Baking Trust
regularly fails to fulfill the assortment plan, and at the same time fails to
use the highgrade flour which it receives. During most of the month, the full
norm of bread and bakery products is not reached, while toward the end of the
month, the city is overstocked with these products. As a result, stores return
many Lread products, or force customers to buy stale bread.
The work of the Nikolayev Light Industry Sales Organization is also poorly
planned. At the beginning of a given quarter, the base accumulates commodity
stocks at its warehouses, and at the end of the quarter be ;ins to release them
in large quantities. In addition, the managers fail to provide a variety of
assortment, sizes, and color, Trade organizations are lax in studying consumer
demand, This causes some stores to have too many commodites, and others to be
short of them.
Many shortcomings in the work of trade organizations are due to poor select-
ion, training, and distribution of personnel. For example, over 30 of the per-
sons working in the city "Pishchetorg" Store had formerly been convicted and dis-
missed for all types of unlawful operations and violation of Soviet trade regula-
tions. The selection of personnel in public dining rooms and restaurants is also
poor.(18)
Estonian SSR
According to data given by Sovetskaya Estonia, 33 public eating enterprises
were put into operation in the Estonian SSR as of October 1952 alone, including
two well-equipped dining rooms in Narva and Tartu. In addition, 86 kolkhoz mar-
kets were to be put into operation in 1952.(19)
In another article, Sovetskaya Estoniaa stated that the Ministry of Trade
Estonian SSR, according to data for the first three quarters of 1952, achieved
some reduction of distribution expenditures. But the work of a number of trade
organizations was still unsatisfactory. For example, the Tallin Food Trust over
spent 533,000 rubles, the larger part of this sum for unnecessary expenditures
for motor and other transport, maintenance of buildings, and depreciation of
equipment. Over 100,000 rubles consisted of losses due to keeping commodities
longer than the established norms. Unplanned losses suffered by the Ministry of
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Trade Estonian SSR for 9 months of 1952 alone amounted to almo 2
les. The workers f t
t
he
.5 million rub-
o ministry explained that he s
to markdowns on footwear. The markdowns If
of these losses were due
bought without
were carried out because the footwear was
also exceeded consideration for consumes demand. Distribution expenditures were
considerably by consumer cooperatives of the republic in 1952.(2o)
Latvian SSR
According to Sovetskava Latvi
^f rayon unions of consumertiesshad of 28 40 stores, mostly tin ruralaareastem
December 1952, a new department store was opened for the sale of dry goods, foot-
wear, housewares, and cultural goods.(21)
However, in another December 1952 article, Sovetskava
Riga stores seldom carry such items as lam viva reported that-
but sell them only with electric lamps. Somet]mdes,fit isbhardato get pinex ens ~
drinking glasses, and the selection of decanters, sugar bowls, andflower ~~vases
is also small.
According tc this article, Riga and republic trade organizations do not pay
enough attention to consumer demand. Warehouses have stocks of high quality dish-
ware worth hundreds of thcusands of rubles. However, because of tht inefficiency
of trade workers, commodities fail to reach the buyers.(22)
Lithuanian SSR
According to Sovetskava Litva
ricultural artels new kolkhoz stores were opened in some ag-
of Tauragskiy Rayon, Lithuanian SSR, it 1952. Seventeen
kolkhozes of this rayon had stores. Commodity turnover in agricultural areas
was constantly increasing. During the first 10 months of 1952, rural stores
sold to kolkhoz farmers more than a million rubles worth of commodities.(23)
In an October 1952 article, Sovetskava Litva reported that a significant
increase in the network of enterprises of the Ministry of Local Industry, in-
dustrial cooperatives, and invalids cooperatives in the Lithuanian SSR in re-
cent years has permitted a considerable increase in the production of consumer
goods. However, the article reported the following deficiencies:
Many enterprises of the Ministry of Local Industry, Lithuanian Council of
Industrial Cooperatives, and Lithuanian Union of Invalids Cooperatives still
fail to carry out the tasks set before them. During the first half of 1952,
the Ministry of Local Industry failed to supply the trade network with 32
percent of the planned amount of enamelware, 22 percent of the hardware and
metal household goods, 59 percent of the furniture, etc. Trade organizations
also failed to receive large quantities of electrical items, furniture, and
other commodities. Opportunities for broadening the variety and improving the
quality of products were not fully utilized. Operations for utilization and
new types of products which could be developed by local industry enterprises
were not fully carried out. Trade organizations of the republic are forced to
imuort these commodities from other oblasts and republics
and unjustifiable purchases and shipping expenditures. , resulting in large
There were many cases of inferior commodities being delivered to the trade
network by suppliers. For example, in the first half of 1952, 494,OOo rubles'
worth of nails, 28,000 rubles' worth of furniture, and 47,000 rubles' worth of
fur collars were rejected. Similar cases were noted in enterprises of the Lith-
uanian Council of Industrial Cooperatives. For example, 736 units of galvanized
ware produced by one artel did not meet the quality standard and were rejected.(24)
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2 Sovetska a Litva complained in another November 1952 article that many of the
3 rayon consumer societies
turnover , It continued fail to fulfill their plans for retail commodity
as follows:
Many stores lack a sufficient supply of household goods, such as rope, buck-
etc, lamp and window glass, nails, cement, etc., Faulty planning leads to ir-
regular uistribution of these goods among various rayons, For example, 8 tons
of wheel grease were delivered to one rayon consumer union, while another failed
to receive any; still another rayon had a shortage of leather articles, while
the neighboring rayon had a aurplus,etc.
Networks of small trading centers often fail to fulfill the commodity turn-
over plans, In some rayons, large-scale specialized stores are put into oper-
ation very turn-
ry slowly, although there is no lack of funds; in addition, there are
still many cases of embezzlement and misappropriation in the cooperative organ-
izations of the oblasts, This is explained by the laxity of the managers of
various oblast consumer unions in their choice of personnel.(25)
In a December 1952 article, Sovetsimvauodeaski Litva pn
the operations of the trade network in Sk reported on shortcomings in
as followsr Many commodities remain in warehouses for Klsypedskaya Oblast,
deteriorate, while the 5 ortmea>
Chi.ldren's toys, of commodities in stores risaex eventually
women', and men's hats, and other necessary tremel
not on sale There ar, c commodities poor.
not n ases when commodities of poor quaiquality y are
ade Work., get t into the
Kolkhoz markets are very important in the fulfillment of trade turnover.
But the rayon consumer union and the rayon executive ccmmittee do not concern
themselves with the organization of kolkhoz trade. The public dining
the rayon consumer union are also unsatisfac+nry. Their meals are
pensive. Supervision of the work of stores and stalls is rooms D
honest elements which Poor and ex-
honest is-
hu n get into the trade network advantage nogy organized. -
P-rvision and embezzle or squander tensofthousandsofrubes.(25) lack of
Karelo-Finpish SSR
In November 1952, Leninskoye Znamya called for improvement of the system of
potato supply in the Karelo= "-'z-
Main Administration of Workers, SupplyRofnthe Ministry oofoLightcIndustry ope ere
particularly poorly, The ORSs (Workers Supply Divisions) of timber managements
produced and delivered onl a I'rates
plod. Ten dude of y little over half of the quota designated in the
plan of potatoes ready for shipment were piled up in kolkhozes. The
timber managements should have moved this load of potatoes, but no steps
were taken to speed up the delivery of the potatoes. In one case, the ORS of a
certain timber management delivered only 110 tons of potatoes of the 205 called
for in the plan..
The ORS of the Kirov Railroad also fails to carry out potato shipments. This
ORS did not fulfill even one third of the designated plan, Consumer trade in pota-
toes was also poorly organized In Petrozavodsk, where ten carloads of
were left standing for a long period,(27)
potatoes
Moldavia,, SR
According to Sovetskaya Moldaviva of 14 December 1952, the retail commodity
network in the republic during g~eceding 2 years expanded considerably.
ing that time, 327 new stores and shops were put into operation, including 49
rayon stores 25 ~r-
5 cultural goods stores, 74 household goods stores, and 219 rural
stores.(28)
ory
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In a January 1953 article, Sovetskaya Moldaviya criticized enterprises of
the Ministry of Light Industry Moldavian SSR for
inferior commodities. For e152, xample, large quantities of
produced by these enterprisesawaselow in
grade, resulting einetheoreturn foftthousands
of pairs of footwear to the factories. At the same time, these enterprises were
producing an enormous quantity of footwear for which there was no demand. Some
35 million rubles' worth of footwear had accumulated in city trade organizations
alone. Sewing factories were also producing large quantities of low-grade and
defective products. Many sewing factories, in the pursuit of plan fulfillment
and to save material, produced articles of small sizes only.
The per
o say from industry moretthant2 million trubles' worth of them most in 1952, trade organizations failed to receive
commodities, such as men's and children's woolen and cotton suits, waterproof
overcoats, dresses, and jackets. Industrial cooperatives also failed to produce
commodities of acceptable quality. During the first 9 months of 1952 alone,
industrial cooperatives paid tc local trade organizations 280,000 rubles for
violation of contractual obligations. Altogether, the Council of Industrial
Cooperatives Moldavian SSR suffered a deficit of over half a million rubles from
low-grade and defective commodities.(29)
According to another Sovetskaya Moldavia article, the supply of agricultural
produce and livestock to cities o: the Moldaviya SSR increased considerably in
1952 as a result of increased kolkhoz production of marketable agricultural com-
modities.
However, the paper stated that deliveries of kolkhoz produce could be bigger
if the Ministry of Trade Moldavian SSR and the rayon executive committees reorgan-
ized kolkhoz trade. They plan the deliveries of agricultural produce and are in
charge of construction and expansion of kolkhoz markets. However, the funds allot-
ted to these organizations for construction of kolkhoz markets are not fully uti-
lized. For example, in 1952, the planned construction of pavilions and the ex-
pansion of markets in Kishinev, Kalarash, Rybnitsa, Ungeny, Orgeyev, and Kotovskoye
were not fulfilled. Some rayons have no markets at all.
The lack of daily supervision of kolkhoz trade brought an accumulation of
hundreds of tons of agricultural products. The paper charged that, although in
1952 a million rubles were allocated for expansion, repair, and sanitation, the
servicing of kolkhoz workers at the central market in Kishinev is very poor.
Kolkhoz representatives and kolkhoz workers lose much time waiting for space
and weighing machines. Because of the lack of refrigeration, it is not possible
to store perishable products. In addition, food products are sold under unsan-
itary conditions.(30)
Georgian SSR
A great deal of criticism of the Georgian SSR trade network was contained in
several larva Vostoka articles in September and November 1952. In one article,
the paper stated that the commodity turnover plan for the first 9 months of 1952
wasto tmpleted only 79.6 percent. The oblast unions of consumer cooperatives fail-
ed
pdoper account?of consumer demands and sometimes failed to supply even
such essential items as soap, salt, kerosene, and thread. Persons who had been
convicted of embezzlement and misappropriation were still accepted for employ-
ment in the trade network.(31)
In another article, Zarva Vostoka stated that the trade organizations of
Tbilisskaya ]blast still retained undesirable practices such as short-weighting
and short-measuring, embezzlement, and squandering. The party organizations in
the trade enterprises and consumer cooperatives were failing to take proper steps
to correct the situation.(32)
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A third Zarya_ yo cka article, complained that the organization
in rural areas also suff
f t
o
rade
ered from d
manyeficiencies. There seemed to be no
.order in the planning and procurement of goods. Rural stores of Akhalikhskiy,
Akhalkalakskiy, Adigenskiy, Bogdanovskiy, and Kedskiy rayons often lacked every-
day consumer goods. There was a particular shortage of winter goods. The pro-
curement of eggs, potatoes,. vegetables, meat, dairy products,and many other agri-
cultural products was lagging sharply. Squandering and embezzlement of coopera-
tive funds, and short-weighting and shortchanging of customers were still very much in evidence. There was also a lack of properly trained personnel.(33)
Azerbaydzhan SSR
According to Bakinskiv Rabochiv of 14 December 1952, the network of stores,
public dining rooms, booths, and stalls in the Azerbaydzhan SSR is expanding
every year. In 1952, 100 new stores were put into operation in Baku alone.
Tn*ning to criticism, the paper wrote: Although the trade organizations
have unlimited opportunities for erpanding and improving trade, they fail to
meet the turnover plan. Trade operations of "Azerittifak" and of the Ministry
of Trade are unsatisfactory. The cooperative stores of Kazakhskiy, Mirbashirskiy,
Kusarskiy, and Khan1arrkiy rayons, the Oils of the "Leninneft"Trust and the
First and Second Baku "Pishehetor%;" stores of the "Gastronom" network have a
constant shortage of commodities, while other stores have a surplus. al trade and thisihasuan stil fall to
ofethup their e commodity tuodity stocks
rnover plan.
The Azerbaydzhan "Glaveybsbyt" (Main Administration for the Sale of Fish) base
operates very poorly and failed to fulfill the third-quarter 1952 plan for
delivery of a large quantity of fish products to stores of the republic.(34)
In another December 1952 article, Bakinskiv Rabochiv stated that in the past
2 years, the Baku trade network increased by more than 400 stores, rooms, tents, mobile units, and stalls. In comparison with the prewar public
period,
the retail commodity turnover increased 88 percent, while the turnover in public
eating enterprises increased twofold. A number of specialized trading organizations
"ore organized and many new specialized stores were opened in the city. The supply
of the trade network was also improved.
The paper then pointers is many serious shortcomings in the work of trading
organizations as follows!
The established plan for commodity turnover is not completed. The oper-
ation of the Baku "Pishchetorg" specialized network of the Ministry of Light
Industry and the Ministry of Local Industry, and that of other trading organ-
izations is not good. Their stores systematically violate the established assort-
ment plan and fail to plan for delivery of products.
The Baku Trade Division of the Ministry of Trade Azerbaydzhan SSR and trade
organizations do not spread out their trade enterprises evenly throughout the
whole network but rather concentrate them mostly in the center of the city.
Especially low-quality commodities of poor assortment are produced by the
local industry and industrial cooperatives. The supplying of petroleum workers
and trade organization in petroleum rayons, especially in remote petroleum rayons,
is very unsatisfactory. The Baku Trade Division is not at all interested in the
organization of trade in petroleum rayons and does not extend any help to the
ORS. It also fails to regulate the trade at kolkhoz markets.
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In the fourth quarter 1952, the work of, the Baku Department Store and
ORSs Of the "Azneft ,"Admi
i
t
n
some
s
ration of Workers' Supply became worse and the
enterprises continuously failed to fulfill the plan for commodity turnover. Most
trade systems show above-norm commodity
URS stocks. For example, the "Azneft," Trust
(Administration of Work^rs' Supply) has 90 million rubles' worth of such
surplus commodity stocks; the Baku Department Store, 28 million rubles; and
local trade organizations of the Baku Trade Division, 20 million rubles. At the
same time, in a number of stores there is a shortage of some necessary goods
such as salt, tobacco products, household soap, vinegar, mustard, knitwear, and
others.(35)
In January 1953, B:kinskiy Rabochiy reported that many enterprises of light,
local, food, and other branches of industry, while exceeding the 1952 production
elan, produced commodities of inferior quality. The paper pointed to serious
shortcomings in local and food industries, especially the industrial cooperatives.
For example, the Ministry of Local Industry Nakhichevanskaya ASSR, while exceed-
ing the plan as a whole, systematically failed to meet the plan for quality and
assortment of products. Half a million rubles' worth of finished commodities
not in demand piled up in warehouses of trade organizations of Nakhichevan, City.
Because of very inferior quality, instead of the 10,000 pairs of footwear spec-
ified by the plan, only 1,584 pairs were sold. In another example, the Ordubad
Cannery produced 233,000 rubles' worth of substandard apricot jelly.
Sales bases of the Ministry of Trade Azerbaydzhan SSR and "Azerotiffak"
were alsosuilty of distributing inferior-quality products of a limited assortment.
(36)
In a fourth article, published in December 1952 Bakinskiy Rabochiy complained
that the problem of the optimum distribution of the trade network was still not
getting enough attention. it discussed this problem as follows:
The Ministry of Trade Azerbaydzhan S3R, the Baku Trade Division, and trade
organizations do not have any definite plans for organizing the trade network by
individual rayons of Baku and the city as a whole. The lack of adequate planning
often results in a haphazard distribution of stores. For example, the following
food stores are located within a short distance of each other: two "Gastronom"
stores, a store of the Baku Meat Combine, and two "Torgmortrans" Maritime Trans-
port Trade Organizatlon_7 stores. Store No 14, of the First Baku "Pishchetorg"
is also not far way. As a result, "Gastronom" Store No 6 systematically fails
to fulfill the retail commodity turnover plan. At the same time, a number of
residential areas, especially those located in the mountainous part of Baku, are
not served by enough stores. Public eating enterprises have the same shortcomings.
Large restaurants -- the "Kavkaz," "Azerbaydzhan," "Baku," "Shark" and "Gek-Cel"'
restaurants, and public dining rooms No 1 and No 7 -- are concentrated within a
short distance of each other, while an enormous rayon in an other part of the
city has only three restaurants. A correct distribution of the trade network
provides the consumer with easy access to it and improves service to the-.popu-
lation. Concentration of a large number of similar-type stores hampers the
execution by these stores of the retail commodity turnover plan and, in the end,
increases distribution expenditures.
Not all of the existing specialized stores conform to their designation.
For example, specialized store No 27 of the Second Baku "PIshchetorg," which
sells milk and dairy products, for some unknown reason also sells meat. As a re-
sult, the store cannot organize an efficient trade in dairy products and the sale
of meat is conducted under unsuitable conditions. The same conditions prevail in
one of the stores of the Baku Meat Combine.
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Experience in Moscow and a number of other cities showed that a rational
distribution of the trade network and consolidation of small stores proves to
be of value, assures improved service to the population, increases the trade
turnover, and reduces distrib
t
u
ion expenditures. The lack of a definite plan
retail commodity network in Baku hampers construction
and equipment of stores in new buildings,
In Planning new buildings., requirements o, trade organizations often are
not considered. Trade premise; in new buildings are not up to standard and do
not have the necessary conveniences for consumers, Many stores have no basements
for storage of products, Planners and builders fail to provide for reasonable
ventilation of stores, conveniences for consumers and counter workers, storage
facilities, refrigerators, etc, The Baku Trade Division does not examine the
projects submitted for Its approval but approves them perfunctorily.(37)
Armenian SSR
In December 1;~~?? F: r.,..,n.a..
Rayon, Armen c6sr,;ed that trade organizations of Kafanskiy
ian S,;R, were violating Soviet trade regulations, including such
violations is short-weightinr?;, shortchanging, and wasting state funds. It
accused the c.anaL;ers of the Fusfan branch of the Armenian Trading organization
and th. liafanzkly Rayon Consumers Union of failure to reorganize their work,
to take into account _,:mplaints about shortcoming;, or to study consumer demand.
To the goad. the saner ;iotritcd out that the trade turnover haC increa-,l
ronsidorably and the '.rude network ;i?d expanded in Karans';iy Rayon by 6t
cntr:rpri,ee since I'47 In 10 million more rut.les worth of commodities
oil t5 population than in
11.
The paper continued by stating that, at the same time, a number of cases
of vtolntions of trade regulations had occurred in Kafan, and the trade turn-
over plans were not fulfilled It described these shortcomings as follows:
Although the warehouses have a great quantity of manufactured goods and
food products, the stores often are short of teakettles, coarse calico, thread,
cuff links, and canned fish. Some trade centers are very unsanitary because
many trade workers do not observe the rules of sanitation in transferring com-
modttles. Store No 18 is located in cramped and damp premises where commodities
are piled up in a disorderly fashion. Repairs of stores usually consist of
whitewashing on the eve of holidays. The show windows are not attractively
arranged and show no price tags, Stores No 2, No 4, and No 6 are located on
the same street. Although store No 4 constantly exceeds the tradA turnover
plan, the remaining stores systematically fail to meet the plan. Trade enter-
prises in Kafan, expecially the ORS of Construction and Installation Adminis-
tration No 2. continue their short-measuring and short-weighting practice, which
result in a waste of state funds and increased debits. In Store No 8, debits ex-
ceeded 1,100,poo rubles, and no auditing took place for 6 months. Price regu-
lations on commodities are also violated in the stores of the Kafanskiy Rayon
Consumers Union. Poor selection and distribution of personnel account for
the shortcomings in trade organizations (38)
In another article, ' , -r pointed out serious shortcomings in the trade
network of Krasnosel'skly Rayon caused mainly by unsatisfactory selection and
training of trade workers. Its complaint ran as follows:
Workers of consumer cooperatives of Krasnosel'skiy Rayon are too slow in
reorganizing their work to improve service to the consumer. The Krasnosel'skiy
Rayon Union of Consumer Cooperatives continues to use obsolete methods of distri-
bution of goods to the network without considering consumer demand. During the
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styles were pilednd,up3horforzha laongndLtime indtheostoresoofithervillagesi
ohkend, of Krasnoye,
stores t
sis often often delayed. , others. The delivery of commodities to rural
The sale of cultural goods in the rayon center and rural stores is very
limited as the rayon has no special cultural goods store, There is a larger
demand for sports goods, but they are not on sale. Radio receivers, phonographs,
bicycles, skis, and cameras are not available for long periods at a time. The
procurement office of the Krusnose]'skiy Rayon Consumers' Union is operating
especially poorly
The plan for procurement of agricultural products is not fulfilled at all.
For example, the procurement office by i November 1952 had fulfilled the 1952 e plan for the procurement of meat 1 13 percent; for eggs, 44.5 percent; for oil, 10.5
t' ural products, only 7 types.(39)
Kazakh SSR
According to Ka znkhctnnckl~a P-nvri-
network and the network. of of 21 November 1952, the retail trade
expanding, work b--i