INVESTIGATION IN TS'AI-HSI TOWNSHIP

[Text] I Administrative Divisions

The well-known Upper and Lower Ts'ai-hsi of the Central Soviet Area belong to Ts'ai-hsi District of Shang-hang County, Fukien. After recent division of administrative areas Ts'ai-hsi District is divided into the following 9 townships: Upper Ts'ai-hsi, Lower Ts'ai-hsi, Ling-pao, T'ung-k'ang, Tseng-k'eng, Men-ts'ai-hsi, T'ai-ti and Hsia-sheng.

Upper Ts'ai-hsi: 523 families, 2,318 persons.

Divided into 4 villages: Li-wu (population about 600), Yang-hsia (500), Chung-hsing (500) and Shang-wu (600).

Regularly stationed in township soviet: chairman, secretary.

Because this is a big ship the secretary regularly posted here to help with the work of the township soviet.

Lower Ts'ai-hsi: 503 families, 2,610 persons.

Divided into 4 villages: Chang-k'eng (population about 600), Hsia-k'eng (500), Pa-k'eng (600), Sun-wu (700).

II Representative Conference

1. Number of Representatives

Upper Ts'ai-hsi: Formerly 53 representatives. In the recent election workers' dependents were counted as workers, increasing the number of representatives to 75 (22 are newly added, mostly bricklayers of the township). Of the original 53 representatives, 13 are workers. With another 22 added, there are now 35 worker representatives. The remaining 40 are peasant representatives. There are 153 workers in the township belonging to 163

families averaging 3 persons each, bringing the total worker population to 489. Because there is one representative for every 13 persons, the above-mentioned number has been elected.

Lower Ts'ai-hsi: Formerly 73 representatives. Now there are 91, with 28 [sic] newly added, also because of an increased election ratio of workers' dependents.

2. Delegation of Representatives

There are 10 to over 20 representatives in each village. The representatives of each of the 4 villages hold separate meetings to elect one of their number to form a delegation to the township soviet, so that there are 4 members in the delegation. Minor work is settled at conferences of the delegation called by the chairman. Every time the representatives hold a conference, the delegation meets beforehand (either in the morning or the day before) to make preparations. The representatives meet once about every 3 days. This procedure began in 1931. (Delegation should be called chief representatives instead).

3. Relationship Between Representatives and Residents

Each representative is in charge of 10, 20, 30, 40; or, at most, 50-odd residents. Worker representatives have fewer residents in their charge, while peasant representatives have more. This arrangement began in 1932.

4. Political Showing of Representatives

Of the 53 representatives of Upper Ts'ai-hsi:

The most active: more than 20;

Medium active: more than 20;

The worst: One.

This worst representative attends only 3 meetings out of every 10. He busies himself with making his own living, but works reluctantly at jobs assigned to him. After repeated criticism, he has been removed from his office by the conference of representatives.

There is no worse representative among the 73 representatives of Lower Ts'ai-hsi.

5. Transfers of Representatives, Election To Fill Their Vacancies

The 53 representatives of Upper Ts'ai-hsi were elected in November last year. By the time a new election was held on 14 November this year, 27 had joined the Red Army (they all went at the same time in November last year) and 11

were transferred to other posts. Altogether 38 left, leaving 15. Meetings of electors were held at each of the villages to elect new representatives to replace the old ones. Worker representatives were elected to fill vacancies left by workers, and peasant representatives were elected to fill vacancies left by peasants. Where there were alternate representatives, the vacancies were filled by them. This additional election meeting was held in November last year. After that, no election meeting was held until October this year, when there were only 42 representatives left because 11 of them were again transferred one after another in the interval.

There were 73 representatives in Lower Ts'ai-hsi. In Red May this year, 11 of them joined the Red Army. Additional election meetings were held at the village level to fill their vacancies. In July among other 15 joined the Red Army, and another additional conference was held to fill the vacancies. The vacancies left by 18 others who were transferred to other posts were filled by alternate representatives.

6. Women Representatives

Of the 53 representatives of Upper Ts'ai-hsi at the time of the October election last year, 16 were women, or 30 percent of the total. Of the 73 representatives of Lower Ts'ai-hsi, 21, or also 30 percent, were women. After the additional election and up to the October election this year, of the 53 representatives of Upper Ts'ai-hsi, 33, or almost 60 percent, were women. Of the 73 representatives of Lower Ts'ai-hsi, 43, or also 60 percent, were women. After the recent election, of the 75 representatives of Upper Ts'ai-hsi, 43, or still 60 percent, are women. Of the 91 representatives of Lower Ts'ai-hsi, 59, or 66 percent, are women.

The system of having a chief of village representatives and fixed relations between representatives and residents is a great advance in soviet organization and leadership. Like the townships of Ch'ang-wang and Shih-shui, Ts'ai-hsi township has gained results in this regard. The heart of the township is in the village. Therefore village organization and leadership is a problem that deserves the utmost attention. The whole area of the township is divided into so many villages. By relying on the strong leadership of the township soviet representatives of the people themselves, the village committee and mass organizations of the village, the masses of the whole village are organized like a network under the soviet to carry out all work of the soviet. This is the most obvious superiority of the soviet system over all other political systems in history. The system adopted in Ch'ang-wang, Ts'ai-hsi, Shih-shui and other townships should be extended to the whole soviet area.

III. This Election

(1) The election was led by the election committee.

(2) Residents and electors were registered. Three rolls of names were made public.

(3) The namelist of candidates contained more than 160 in Lower Ts'ai-hsi (91 of them were elected). The namelist was posted in each village, and each list contained more than 160 names. Many of the people wrote comments of 2, 5 or 6, or more than 10 characters under the names of candidates. Even children dotted down there*. Most of them wrote "good" or "not good." Some of them wrote "agreed" or "negative." One of the candidates had the word "bureaucratic" written under his name. Over 10 were criticized in wall posters. The criticized candidates were those who were concerned only with making their own living, neglected the interests of the masses, and engaged passively for the public. There were some poems and songs, three of which criticized the township soviet for handling the problem of paper-making badly.

(4) Congress of electors was held with townships as the unit. The township soviet reported on its work.

(5) Workers of the whole township formed a unit. Peasants of each village formed a unit (4 of them).

(6) The election rally was attended by 80 percent of the electors. The sick, those on sentry duty, those who worked for the cooperative and were out on buying missions, and women in their final month of pregnancy, totaling 20 percent in all, did not attend. Old people came, leaning on staffs.

(7) Many meetings were held for the election. The labor union, poor peasants leagues, women's association, mutual-aid association and antiimperialist alliance held a rally of members together. The children's league and Young Pioneers also held meetings. The Party and the League were the first to hold meetings. There were slogans and pamphlets. So this year's election propaganda was far more extensive than last year's and most people realized the meaning of election.

Last year youngsters under 16 clamored for the right to vote. They asked, because many of them had already joined the Red Army and their work was far better than that of others, why were they not given the right to vote? This year they understood why their age was a barrier, and they clamored no more.

Propaganda teams went to all villages to make propaganda. During the day they made speeches. At night they gave shows.

(8) At the rally of electors there was agitation to buy bonds. More than 1500 yuan's worth of bonds was bought by those at the rally in Lower Ts'ai-hsi. Another 830 yuan's worth was bought in Upper Ts'ai-hsi.

At the rally of electors in T'ai-ti township, 13 persons were persuaded to join the Red Army. One of the 2 squads of the Model Battalion of the Red Guard Army of the whole township joined the Red Army.

(9) Election of new cadres.

Of the 75 representatives of Upper Ts'ai-hsi, 21 are re-elected from the former 53 representatives and 54 are newly elected. Thirty-two former representatives are not re-elected. Of the 91 representatives in Lower Ts'ai-hsi, 50 are re-elected from the former 73 representatives and 41 are newly elected. Twenty-three of the former representatives are not re-elected.

In general, the elections in Upper and Lower Ts'ai-hsi are successful. In their election propaganda, organization of lists of candidates and urging of the masses to criticize the candidates, correlation of the election to other work and organization of workers and women so they might be elected, they have fully implemented the Central Government "Instructions regarding the election," so that they become models of the election campaign in the soviet area. On the other hand, in urging electors at the election rallies to make proposals for discussion by the new representatives, they have not made a good showing. The model in this respect should be Ch'ang-wang town-ship of Hsing-kuo.

IV. Committees Under the Township Soviet

There are many committees under the township soviet. The following are several examples:

"Support the Red Army": Upper and Lower Ts'ai-hsi each has 5 committee members. Each of the 4 villages has a committee, also of 5 members each.

"Preferential Treatment for Red Army Dependents": Upper and Lower Ts'ai-hsi each has 5 members. Each village also has 5 members.

"Land Investigation": The two townships each has 11 members. The villages have none.

"Election": The two townships each has 7 members. None for the villages.

"Land": Upper Ts'ai-hsi has 11 members and Lower Ts'ai-hsi 7. None for the villages.

"Labor": The two townships have 7 members each. There is no such committee at the village level, but only groups, which are committees of the labor co-operative.

"Forestry": Upper Ts'ai-hsi has 7 members, Lower Ts'ai-hsi has 11.

"Return of Deserters": Each of the two townships has 12 members.

There are no "spring plowing," "summer-plowing"...committees. Only "land tilling teams" are organized. Five persons form a group, 10 a squad, 30 a medium team and 100 a large team. Upper and Lower Ts'ai-hsi each has a large team. Land tilling teams are organized principally for the sake of giving preferential treatment to dependents of the Red Army.

The organizing and leading of the many committees under the township soviet becomes an important part of its work. This is again demonstrated in Ts'ai-hsi township. The Central Government has adopted the experience of various localities and incorporated it in the "organic law of rural soviets." This provides that a township may organize more than 20 regular and ad hoc committees. The number may be appropriately increased or decreased in accordance with the requirements of the work of the localities. An urban soviet, on the other hand, will have to organize a number of committees different in character to the rural ones, in accordance with the special character of urban centers. The clearly defined and unified establishment of this system will draw still closer the relationship between the soviet and the masses, and will lend enormous strength to the execution of all work of the soviet. One problem is that the village should also set up certain important work committees (people's organizations with large memberships should likewise set up their village-level leadership organs). This is because if there are only township-level committees, it will be impossible to carry out thorough, careful work in townships with a large population of about 1,000. This will be assured if many village-level committees are set up.

V. Expansion of the Red Army

In the 3 months of August, September and October:

Upper Ts'ai-hsi: 60 persons. Two platoons of a model battalion mobilized.

In addition, 11 persons have rejoined. There are still 2 or 3 who have not rejoined owing to illness.

Lower Ts'ai-hsi: 65 persons. The model battalion mobilized 52 persons all at once. On another occasion, when men were individually mobilized, 13 persons joined up.

In addition, 11 persons have rejoined. There are still 14 others who have not yet rejoined.

There were 12 townships in the district (before division). On 15 August 273 persons were mobilized to join the model battalion. The redivided district comprises 8 townships. In all, more than 50 persons have not yet rejoined.

Of the whole district, the two townships of Upper and Lower Ts'ai-hsi have produced the best results in expansion of the Red Army. The principal reason is that they have always done well in giving Preferential treatment to Red Army dependents and comforting the Red Army. Previous to Red May, an average of 300 pairs of cloth and straw sandals a month could be collected from each of the 8 townships. The quantity was recently slightly reduced owing to the blockade and scarcity of cloth. Nevertheless, Upper and Lower Ts'ai-hsi have been able to produce the following results: Upper Ts'ai-hsi, over 500 pairs in August, over 100 pairs in September, and over 90 pairs in October.

Lower Ts'ai-hsi, over 300 pairs in August, 280 pairs in September, 300 pairs in October and 630 pairs in November.

These results have been obtained mainly owing to mobilization by the Party and League branches of Party and League members to provide leadership to conferences of women, worker and woman peasant representatives: (1) Party and League members first held meetings; (2) women representatives held meeting; (3) women held mass meeting.

The women representatives meet once every 10 days. There is a presidium of 5 at the township level. One of these is elected director. The re-maining 4 are assigned to the 4 villages, one for each village, serving as chief of the village.

The women representatives discuss all problems which are also discussed by the township soviet. They make particular exertions in matters of comfort-ing the Red Army, selling bonds and expanding production. In addition, they also frequently discuss matters of interest to themselves, such as the marriage problem. They explain marriage regulations to the womenfolk.

Mobilization of large numbers of the masses to join the Red Army depends on: (1) Politically, full propaganda and encouragement, abolition of all methods of coercion; (2) full preferential treatment for dependents of Red Army men; and (3) healthy squad organization and training of local armed forces. Preferential treatment for dependents of Red Army men is a fundamental work that would make the masses gladly join the Red Army and contentedly stay with the Red Army. This is fully borne out by the experience of the townships of Ch'ang-wang and Ts'ai-hsi. There are 407 young and adult males (16 to 45 years of age) in Ch'ang-wang township. Of this num-ber, 320, or 80 percent, have left to join the Red Army and work. There are 554 young and adult (16-45 years of age) males in Upper Ts'ai-hsi, 485, or 88 percent, of them have left to join the Red Army and work. In Lower Ts'ai-hsi there are 756 males, 526 of whom, or 70 percent, have left to join the Red Army and to work. Such large scale expansion of the Red Army would certainly have been impossible if the problem had not been solved thoroughly from the viewpoint of economy and production. Only by correlating economic with political mobilization will it be possible to create a high tide of Red Army expansion and accomplish results like those accomplished in Ch'ang-wang and Ts'ai-hsi townships.

VI. Economic Life

(1) Problem of Labor Force

Upper Ts'ai-hsi: Of the total population of 2,318 (during the uprising), 554 are males capable of labor (16-55 years of age, same below), and 581 are females capable of labor. Of these, 419 have joined the Red Army and 86 (66 males and 22 females) have been transferred to outside areas for work. Of the 554 males of the age group of 16-55 and capable of labor, 485 (419 plus 66) have left for the Red Army or to work, and only 69 remain behind. Thus the male labor force is only 11 percent of the female labor force of 559 (581 minus 22). There are 258 families of Red Army dependents in the whole township.

Lower Ts'ai-hsi: Of the total population of 2,610, there are 1,207 males and females able to labor (765 males and 442 females). Of these, 460 have joined the Red Army and 38 (91 males, 7 females) have been transferred to outside areas to work. Of the 765 males capable of labor, 533 have joined the Red Army or left for work, and only 232 remain in the township. Thus the male labor force is only 33 percent of the female labor force of 435 (442 minus 7). There are 355 families of dependents of the Red Army in the whole township.

As a result, it is mainly women who farm the land. In Upper Ts'ai-hsi this year, about 300 women can use cattle and more than 60 can plant seed-lings. Before the uprising only 1/10 of these 300, that is, 30 women, could use cattle. The increase is obtained after several years' effort.

Meanwhile, the "old comrades" are very energetic. They make up a large number of those who cultivate hills and mountains and some can plant seed-lings and harvest crops. Children, too, take part in production. Hence production is developing. The development of production also depends on mutual adjustments of the labor force, apart from the participation of women, old persons and children in production. Within the same village, families with labor power to spare help those with little labor power. Within the same township, labor-surplus villages help labor-deficit villages. Within the same district, labor-surplus townships help labor-deficit ones. In this way, the labor force is adjusted with the district as a unit for the purpose of doing labor. In addition, Party and League members also work "Saturdays." Hence production gains still greater development.

Labor is adjusted mainly through the labor cooperative and land farming teams, whose task is to help Red Army dependents and make possible mutual aid among the masses.

Help for Red Army dependents: Carrying rice packs (but not other food) and farm implements for them. The same when planting seedlings and harvesting.

Mutual-aid among the masses: Daily wages agreed at 2 hao, the same for males and females, run and slack seasons. This has been the practice since 1930. When one Red Army dependents helps another, the pay is 1.5 mao a day. When Red Army dependents help other people, the pay is 2 mao a day. When the masses help Red Army dependents, no wages will be paid.

The labor cooperative plans for the whole township. There is a 5-man committee of the labor cooperative of the township which takes charge of the whole, and one committee member for each of the 4 villages who plans for the village.. When labor is required, it must be procured through the village committee member. There can be no private employment, otherwise labor adjustment may be upset. Pay is agreed on between the employer and the employee without the intermediation of the committee member.

The labor cooperative of this township was set up in 1931. It is the forerunner of the "Labor Mutual-Aid Cooperative" which now functions all over the soviet area.

Each of the committee members keeps a record of those who are or are not able to labor, or who are short of labor power, so that labor can be immediately supplied whenever anyone wants to employ it. Those who are unfamiliar with the situation may ask the intermediate team leader of the land farming team. (There is one intermediate land farming team for each of the villages. Five persons make a group, 2 groups or 10 persons make a squad, and 5 or 6 squads make an intermediate team). The intermediate team leader also keeps a record. "It is agreed upon to combine the land farming team with the labor cooperative."

Production situation: After the uprising (1929-1931), production dropped by about 20 percent. In 1932 half the loss, or 10 percent, was recovered. This year (1933) it increased by 20 percent compared with that of last year, (output of miscellaneous crops such as sweet potato, bean, taro and yam increased by 51 percent compared to that of last year) exceeding that of the pre-uprising year by 10 percent. After the uprising many of the fields throughout the district were not tilled. Last year a small part of them was recovered. This year there has been a massive development to the extent of over 1,300 piculs. More hills have been developed than fields, as hills make up three-fourths and fields only one-fourth of the land developed. Because all fields have been opened, hills are now developed. Not a single ridge that besides the rice fields is not planted with miscellaneous crops. All fields suitable for sweet potatoes are planted with sweet potatoes. Female comrades vie with one another in developing hills. Everyone wants to do it. The effect of the competition is great. (The district was far short of grain before the uprising and besides many people made flour in those days). Last year there was enough for consumption, and this year there is a surplus. Now no one in the whole district makes flour or "cakes," and no one produces liquor by distillation.

(2) Consumer Cooperatives

There are 14 consumer cooperatives in the 8 townships of the whole district.

Two are in Upper Ts'ai-hsi:

One is an oil, salt and meat cooperative. It originally operated on a capital of 4 yuan, which was subsequently increased to 185 yuan at 50 cents a share.

It was organized in October 1930. There was a distribution of dividends in July 1933. Each share paid 50 cents. One person is regularly posted in the cooperative. He is helped by two others on market days.

The other is a cloth cooperative. It originally operated on a capital of 144 yuan which was subsequently increased to 255 yuan at 1 yuan a share.

This was formed at the same time as the former. There was a distribution of dividends in September 1933. Each share was paid 1 yuan. Two persons are regularly posted in the cooperative. They are helped by another on market days.

Three are in Lower Ts'ai-hsi:

One cloth cooperative: Original capital 120 yuan, subsequently increased to 240 yuan at 1 yuan a share. It was formed in January 1930. There was a distribution of dividends in February 1932. Each share was paid 1 yuan. Two persons are regularly posted in the cooperative.

One oil, salt and meat cooperative: Original capital 35 yuan, subsequently increased to 157 yuan at 50 cents a share. It was formed in October 1929. There was a dividend distribution in March 1933. Each share was paid 50 cents. Two persons are regularly posted in the cooperative. On market days they have a helper.

One beancurd, candy and piglet cooperative: Original capital 125 yuan, subsequently increased to 180 yuan at 50 cents a share. It was formed in January 1931. There was a dividend distribution in February 1933. Each share was paid 30 cents. Three persons are regularly posted in the office.

Accounts of the cooperatives are audited twice a month (auditor eats at home after checking accounts). Members meet once a month (no meals provided). Officers are elected once every 3 months at a members meeting. New officers are elected immediately to fill the vacancies of those who have been transferred to county or district cooperatives, or who are young and have joined the Red Army (in which case older persons take their place), or who do not want to serve another term. In practice, most of them serve consecutive terms and few are transferred. Only dependents of Red Army men who are in financial difficulty may buy on credit. They may pay on

the next or the next two market days, but must pay on the third market day (there is a 10-day interval between 2 market days). Debts may be repaid in kind, e.g., in rice, beans, etc. Outstanding debts not paid on market days shall be fully paid in July and October each year.

Sixty percent of the families of Upper Ts'ai-hsi and 90 percent of those of Lower Ts'ai-hsi have joined the cooperatives.

Red Army dependents are given first priority when buying goods in short supply. Next come members of the cooperatives, and lastly non-members.

Price: Red Army dependents (those who have certificates) are given a 5 percent discount on the market price. No discount is given members of the cooperatives. The same applies to Red Army dependents from other townships or districts. Red Army dependents of the old country, Nan-yang and Kuanchuang districts sometimes come to buy goods.

"Cooperatives are tops"--this is medicine opinion.

With the single exception of a medicine store kept by a Kiangsi native, there is no private store that sells goods from outside areas in the whole district. (This situation is brought about by gradually whittling down the number of privately owned stores). But on market days one or two persons privately sell salt. There are also those who still privately sell beancurd and other native produce.

(3) Food Grain Cooperatives

These were formerly called Grain Adjustment Bureaus. They began to be formed in 1930, with capital raised by the masses. Funds were not generally collected, but were collected only from families who were comparatively well off. Each share was 1 yuan. One adjustment bureau was formed in each township. There were 8 bureaus in the district, with a total capital of 1,810 yuan.

Method of adjustment: When buying paddy from the masses every year, the bureau gets 2 sheng less than the private buyer for every yuan's worth. For example, a private buyer buys paddy at 1 tou 7 sheng per yuan, while the adjustment bureau buys only 1 tou and 5 sheng per yuan. Grain is offered for sale first to Red Army dependents and next to the masses who are in difficulty. Whether the masses are in difficulty or not is decided by the conference of township representatives after investigation. Grain is sold not at the market price, but at cost after a slight deduction for losses and spoilage. For example, when grain is bought at 1 tou and 5 sheng per yuan, it is sold at 1 tou sheng and 5 ho, 5 ho being deducted for loss and spoilage. Red Army dependents who do not have cash and the masses who are particularly in difficulty may borrow grain, to be repaid in kind at harvest time without interest. Every year when the work of collecting or selling grain is completed, the township soviet tell the masses to elect representatives who will check the accounts with the responsible person of the adjustment bureau. After that, a statement of account is made public. Every

year after fall grain is collected, measured and stored in the granaries, which are then sealed by the township soviet with long strips of paper. Grain is sold once or twice in spring and summer. When the masses need grain, the granaries will be opened so the masses may buy grain. In general grain is sold every year in March when it is planting time and in May, when last season's grain is consumed while the new crop is not yet ready for harvesting.

The bureaus were renamed grain cooperatives in February this year, but the organization remains the same. Since the launching of the economic construction campaign this year, the grain cooperatives of all the townships have been expanded. For example, the grain cooperative of Upper Ts'ai-hsi originally had a capital of 215 yuan. Its capital is now increased to 403 yuan to 418 yuan. That of Lower Ts'ai-hsi originally had a capital of 137 yuan. It is increased by 200 yuan to 337 yuan. The 5-man committee of the adjustment bureau and a chairman are regularly posted at the bureau. They get paid for their meals.

In May this year there was famine in the two townships of Shang-ts'un and Changwen (now incorporated in Ts'ang-hsien District). The two townships are mostly bamboo hills. Each person gets only 4 tan of arable land, and the paper-making industry has failed. The grain adjustment bureaus of all other townships of the district cooperated in giving relief. The price of paddy was then 2 sheng per yuan, but the adjustment bureaus lent these townships paddy at last fall's price of 1 tou and 6 sheng per yuan, to be repaid after fall. The whole district lent a total of 36 tan in addition, miscellaneous foods (dried sweetpotatoes, etc) and cash were collected for relief. As a result, no one starved. There has been no famine in the other townships of Ts'ai-hsi District this year, thanks to the efforts of the adjustment bureaus.

In Lower Ts'ai-hsi there is also a "Rice Sales Cooperative" with a capital of 130 yuan at 50 cents a share. This is set up exclusively for the convenience of Red Army units in transit, travelers, government personnel and the masses victimized by disasters who went to buy grain. The cooperative is governed by a committee of 5 who are not regularly posted at the cooperative. On market days one person works there for a half a day. At other times its work is carried on by some other consumer cooperative. The worker who buys rice for sale is paid his wages plus money for his meals. No dividend is distributed. The ordinary masses rarely buy their rice here. Only 5 or 6 percent of them buy rice here. Rice is sold at market price. Since this cooperative was set up with capital raised by the masses, Red Armymen and disaster victims no longer have to buy rice from door to door.

(4) Draft Cattle Cooperatives

This cooperative has been set up only by Upper and Lower Ts'ai-hsi townships in the whole district. Each cooperative owns 3 head of cattle.

About 20 percent of the families of the two townships have no cattle.

No solution has as yet been found to this situation.

(5) Everyday Life

Rice: Before the uprising, poor peasants and hired hands had an average of only 3 months supply of rice a year for their own consumption. In the remaining 9 months they had to live on miscellaneous crops. In the period before harvest, when the old stock was exhausted and the new crop was not yet ready, they had to subsist on gourd weed and some on chaff. Now they have 5 months reserve of rice and another 5 months reserve of miscellaneous crops, so they have enough to last them a whole year. The region produces little rice, so the people still have to depend on miscellaneous crops half the time. Production of miscellaneous crops has now increased. Before the uprising, a meal was far from satisfying. Now people can eat their fill. Moreover, they have a surplus which they can sell to the Red Army or use for paying land tax, buying public bonds or exchanging for oil and salt. In short, the food situation has improved 100 percent (6-month reserve of rice compared with 3-month reserve).

Meat: Before the uprising, poor peasants and hired hands consumed on average of 1 yuan (ta-yang) of meat a year per capita. Now it is 2 yuan, an increase of 100 percent. Before the uprising only 60 families in a 100 kept pigs. Now 95 families in a 100 keep pigs.

Clothing: Before the uprising each person could make an average of one suit every 2 years. After the uprising each person could make an average of 1 1/2 suits every year, an increase of 300 percent. This year the situation is again changed. Cloth is scarce as a result of the blockade, so each person can make an average of only half a suit, a return to the pre-uprising status. Before the uprising an unlined suit was worth 18 mao (14 mao for cloth and 4 mao for labor). Last year one suit was worth 21 mao (17 mao for cloth and 4 mao for labor) or equal to 1.5 yuan. This year one suit is worth 34 mao (30 mao for cloth and 4 mao for labor, or the equivalent of 2.4 yuan in tayang). Counterrevolution has jacked up the price of our clothing to this extent!

Salt: Before the uprising each person consumed an average of 1 catty of salt a month. In November this year each person consumed only 3.2 liang of salt a month. In other words, a family of 3 who consumed 3 catties of salt a month before the uprising consumed only 1 catty in November this year. There will be no salt for anyone unless the Kuomintang is overthrown!

Oil: Before the uprising the per capita consumption (of wood oil from Kiangsi and local lard) was 6 liang a month. There is now no reduction or increase. But because wood oil from Kiangsi is reduced, the masses are consuming more lard.

(6) Prices

Paddy--Before the uprising it was 10 yuan per tan (100 catties). In 1929 it was 2.5 yuan. In 1930 it was 5 yuan. In 1932 it was 6.2 yuan. In May 1933 it was 10 yuan, but in October it was 5 yuan.

Pork--Before the uprising it was 1 yuan for 2.5 catties (with bone). Now it is also 1 yuan for 2.5 catties (but without bone).

Fish--Owing to the blockade after the uprising, there is no fry from Chiu-chiang (via Wu-p'ing County). The ponds are empty. There is no market.

Chicken--8 mao per catty. the same before and after the uprising.

Duck--4 mao per catty, about the same before and after the uprising.

Chicken eggs--3 for 1 mao, about the same before and after the uprising.

Duck eggs--3 for 1 mao, about the same before and after the uprising.

Lard--Same as pork.

Lime--Not used in the fields, but used for paper-making. One yuan buys 1 tan (80 catties), about the same before and after the uprising.

Beans--Before the uprising it was 10 yuan a tan (8 tou). In 1932 it was 20 yuan. This year it is 8 yuan.

Tobacco--Before the uprising it was 1 mao for 2 liang. Now it is 1 mao for 1.6 liang.

Tea--1 yuan buys 3.5 catties, about the same before and after the uprising.

Rapeseed oil--Before the uprising it was 1 yuan for 3.5 catties. This spring it was 2.5 catties. This winter it is 1 catty and 13 liang.

Paper--Before the uprising grass paper was 4.5 yuan a roll (40 catties). In 1931 it was 6 yuan. In 1932 it was 5 yuan. In 1933 it was 1.5 yuan. As a result, no one makes paper now.

Timber--Cannot be exported, so no market. Paper and timber constitute the largest exports of the region. Now both have failed. The hateful Kuomintang blockade!

Wood oil--Before the uprising wood oil was 1 yuan for 3.5 catties. Now little comes here, so the people have to consume more lard.

Iron--Price has doubled compared with that before the uprising.

Cloth--Before the uprising cotton cloth was 1 yuan for 1 bolt (2 chang 3 ch'ih). In 1932 it was 1 yuan and 4 mao for 1 bolt. This year it was 2 yuan and 2 mao for 1 bolt.

Salt--Before the uprising it was 1 yuan for 10 catties. From 1930 up to spring 1932 it was still 1 yuan for 10 catties. That summer it was 1 yuan for 7 catties. In 1933 it was 1 yuan for 1 catty. In November 1 yuan could buy only 14 liang. The biggest problem is to break the blockade.

Kerosene--Before the uprising 50 percent of the families used kerosene for their lamps. It was then 1 yuan for 7 catties and 14 liang. In 1933 1 yuan could only buy 1 catty and 5 liang. As a result, with the exception of public offices, no one uses it. The people all use "pine light."

Firewood--Before the uprising 1 catty was 2 chips. Last year it was 3 chips. This year it is from 5 to 9 chips.

Mao-yang--Same before and after the uprising. Each mao is 16 catties.

Silver dollars--Miscellaneous silver dollars worth 13.5 mao each; silver dollars with Yuan Shih-k'ai head worth 14 mao each. Soviet notes have the same value. Only soviet notes are now in circulation. Silver dollars have completely vanished. It is Kuomintang sabotage again!

VII. Economic Bonds

The 8 townships of the newly demarcated Ts'ai-hsi District consist of 2,188 families of 8,782 persons, who together have undertaken to buy bonds with a total value of 13,600 yuan. About 1,000 yuan worth of bonds still remains to be sold.

Upper Ts'ai-hsi township, with 513 families of 2,318 persons, has taken up 4,000 yuan.

Lower Ts'ai-hsi township, with 503 families of 2,660 persons, has taken up 4,146 yuan.

Methods:

(1) Mobilization at Party and League rallies.

(2) Mobilization at meetings separately held by all organizations.

(3) Mobilization at meeting of representatives of township soviets.

(4) A mass meeting at the village level was held exclusively for propaganda, not for the sale of bonds.

(5) A mass rally was held at the township level to sell bonds. Over 1,500 worth of bonds was sold in each of the two townships. Work not yet finished.

(6) Sales committee of township representatives (3 from each village) and propaganda team (organized by township with 3 persons from each village) carried out propaganda from door to door.

(7) At a rally of electors, over 600 yuan of bonds was sold in Upper Ts'ai-hsi and another 1,600 yuan was sold in Lower Ts'ai-hsi. Up to that time over 2,000 yuan was sold in Upper Ts'ai-hsi, with over 1,000 yuan still unsold. Over 3,000 yuan was sold in Lower Ts'ai-hsi, with about 900 yuan still unsold.

(8) After that the representatives, sales committee and propaganda team carried out door-to-door agitation, and sold all the bonds. The people pledged to buy the remaining bonds, but certificates had not yet been received.

The buying of bonds was entirely voluntary without coercion. At every one of the meetings there was talk about economic construction. Because the county trade bureau has been set up and the masses can buy salt and cloth, they all the more realize the importance of the economic bonds.

We repeat. Only by coordinating economic construction with political mobilization is it possible to create a higher upsurge of the expansion of the Red Army and spur the broad masses to the battle front. After the adult and young males have left Ts'ai-hsi en masse to join the Red Army for war, production exceeds that before the uprising by 10 percent! All wasteland is developed, so it is necessary to carry development to the hills. There is not a single piece of arable land that is not planted with some crop. The life of the masses is improved by more than 100 percent.

The labor cooperative (called labor mutual-aid cooperative elsewhere), consumer cooperative and grain cooperative have organized the economic life of the masses of the whole township. Economic organization has reached a very high level, so Ts'ai-hsi becomes the first glorious model in this respect throughout the soviet area. This economic achievement buoys up the spirit of the masses. They can now take up arms and go to the front for the defense and development of the soviet area, entirely free of worry for their dependents at home. Of the total population of 4,928 of the two townships, 1,018 (485 from Upper Ts'ai-hsi and 533 from Lower Ts'ai-hsi) have left to join the Red Army or for work. This ironclad fact gives us an effective weapon with which to smash the humbuggery of all opportunities, who for example declare that economic construction is impossible during the Civil War, that the life of the masses of the soviet area has not improved, that the masses are unwilling to join the Red Army, or that expansion of the Red Army will leave no manpower for production. We call upon the hundreds and thousands of townships throughout the Soviet area to emulate the townships of Ch'ang-wang, Ts'ai-hsi and Shih-shui. We hereby solemnly place the glorious achievements of these several townships before all the worker-peasant masses, so they may build the several thousand townships like Ch'ang-wang, Ts'ai-hsi and Shih-shui and make them a strong advanced position for winning victory in all China.

VIII. Culture and Education

Upper Ts'ai-hsi:

Day schools: Four, under one principal, each with one teacher. The masses collect funds for the teachers' meals, set at 13 cents a day. Total number of pupils: 141, mostly between 6 and 10. Most of those of the age group of 6-14 go to the district soviet voluntary labor school (from reorganized children work cadre training center). There are over 600 children between the ages of 1 and 15 in the whole township. Of the 623 children of the age group of 6-15, 141 go to the day school and 37 go to the district soviet voluntary school. There are 146 children without any school to go to.

Evening schools: Four, without principal. Teachers are the same ones who teach in the day schools. Pupils number more than 120, all girls. Expenses for each school amount to 50 cents a month. The money is collected from the masses.

Literacy Class: Twenty-four groups of 10 persons each, totaling 240 persons. Every 5 days the evening school teachers give these new characters to learn. Each group has a leader. Students include men and women. Those who cannot go to the evening schools because they are old, too busy or have to look after small children, go to the literacy classes.

Newspaper reading group: Based in the club house, under one chief. On market days (every 5 days), "Struggle," "Red China," "Notice," or "Class Analysis" is read. At least 50-60, sometimes as many as 80-90 persons listen to the reading each time.

Character recognition boards: There are 6 placed in thoroughfares.

Club house: One. Over 50 persons work for the club, including over 30 members of the new theatrical troupe.

Wall newspapers: Displayed at 4 places outside the entrance to each of the day schools. Most articles are written by the pupils and their teachers. Only 10 percent is written by the masses.

Lower Ts'ai-hsi:

Day schools: Five, under one principal, each with one teacher. Teachers' meals are provided as in Upper Ts'ai-hsi. There are over 150 pupils. Another 60-plus go to the district school. The total is over 210.

Evening schools: Eight, without a principal. Five of the teachers are the same ones who teach in the day schools. The other 3 are secured elsewhere. Each school has an average of 30 pupils, totaling 240. Expenses amount to 50 cents a month.

Club house: One, with working personnel of more than 50.

Literacy class: Twenty-six groups, totaling 260 persons. The same method of teaching is used as in Upper Ts'ai-hsi.

Character recognition boards: Five pieces.

Wall newspapers: Displayed in 5 places.

Newspaper reading group: One. Meets once every 5 days on market day.

--- Notes

* 1947 edition Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung Vol 1.


* Township Soviet Work Model (2) Ts'ai-hsi Township (mimeographed) Printed by Central Government Dec 1933.


* "Struggle," Nos 45, 46, 48, 2 Feb, 9 Feb, 23 Feb 1934.


* Rural investigation. Liberation Publishing Society. July 1949.