Distributed
[Comments on "Opinions of Some Commune Members and Cadres on the Issue of Distribution According to Work"]
[I] — A Note of Instruction
(March 22, 1961)

Distribute to all comrades. This is a nationwide issue and must be resolved swiftly.

Mao Zedong
March 22

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This is an investigative material on the issue of rural distribution submitted on March 22, 1961, by Chen Boda, Director of the Political Research Office of the CPC Central Committee and Mao Zedong's secretary. The main contents are as follows:

I. In Hebei Province
A poor peasant from Tang'erli in Ba County said, "Don't look at the fact that many people turn out for work now, but no work gets done," "mainly because distribution is not according to work, so there is no drive in working." A representative of another poor peasant group said: "Distribution according to work is simply good. More work means more gain, and commune members will put forth their strength in working. Implementing distribution according to work also won't leave households in difficulty unable to get by; everyone must also help them. Those with more labor power won't become inactive in work either. Because that kind of help is open help, and they must acknowledge this kindness. The supply system is covert help, as if it is taken for granted that others should work for them."

II. In Guangdong Province
The Party branch secretary of the Yunyi Brigade of Huancheng Commune in Gaohe County said that after implementing the 30-70 split between supply and wages and linking work points to grain rations, as long as consideration is given in aspects such as work assignment to households with many people but little labor power, they will not overspend either. One poor peasant representative said: "Implementing the 30-70 split is supported not only by those with more labor power, but also by someone like me with little labor power. Because if the 30-70 split is not implemented, work points are worthless, and those with more labor power will not produce properly. If production is not done well, no matter how large the supply portion is, nothing will be obtained." Another poor peasant said: "When grain rations were distributed per capita, some commune members would not turn out for work. After implementing linking work points to grain rations, those turning out for work immediately increased." A cadre from the Gaohe County Party Committee said: "We conducted an investigation, and 80 percent of the people demand a 30-70 split between supply and wages, and the implementation of linking work points to grain rations." This investigative material was written by two staff members who came to Guangdong with Chen Boda to conduct investigations. Before coming, they had also investigated the above-mentioned issues in Hebei.