p Under capitalism, the town ruthlessly exploits the country, and there is consequently an irreconcilable antithesis of interests. Socialism removed the antithesis between town and country, but essential distinctions between them remain as regards the economy, culture and way of life. The main reason is that in town, in industry, property belongs to the state, to the whole people, while in the countryside, in collective-farm production, group, co-operative and collectivefarm property prevails. Moreover, the countryside is somewhat behind the town in the cultural level and its way of life differs.

p In the course of building communism collective-farm property is further consolidated and developed, and gradually draws closer to the property of the whole people. This process takes place as the technical facilities of the collective farm grow, causing agricultural labour gradually to become a variety of industrial labour. Greater mechanisation steadily raises labour productivity and agriculture’s efficiency, and this leads to a further increase in the incomes of the collective farms and the collective farmers. The amounts and the forms of labour remuneration received by the collective farmers are drawing closer to the amounts and forms of labour remuneration of urban workers at factories.

p The changes in the nature of agricultural production alter the face of the countryside, improving the way of life of the peasants and raising their cultural standard. Inter-collective farm and state and co-operative associations specialising in the production or processing of specific types of farm products are being set up in the countryside. They greatly resemble urban industrial enterprises in terms of their technical equipment and the high qualification of their workers.

p Large-scale construction of canteens, kindergartens and nurseries, bakeries, shops and various service establishments is underway in the rural areas. Housing construction has also assumed extensive proportions, and more and more urbantype houses with central heating, water supply, and all other amenities are being built. The collective farm villages are gradually turning into modern, urban-type settlements.

p The collective farms are investing large funds in the construction of cultural centres, clubs, libraries, schools, stadiums, playgrounds, etc. The book and the radio, telephone and TV are permanent features of collective-farm life. Universities of culture, people’s theatres, music schools, and amateur arts are increasingly spreading in rural areas.

p Town and country are drawing together also as a result of the change in vocational composition of the population. A large number of engineers, technicians, agronomists, livestock experts and farm-machine operators have become residents in the countryside. More and more teachers, doctors and other specialists serve rural areas.

p As the Soviet Union draws nearer to communism, living conditions of the urban population will greatly improve. The negative aspects of urban life will be eliminated, and people will have more air, light and greenery. In this respect their working and living conditions will draw closer to those in the countryside.

That is how the essential distinctions between town and country are being removed. Once this is achieved, the division of society into the working class and the peasantry will disappear for ever.