THE WORK OF LAND REFORM AND OF PARTY CONSOLIDATION IN 1948 * May @%, !($*
I It is necessary to pay attention to the seasons. In areas designate by the bureaus or sub-bureaus of the Central Committee, the whole of next autumn and winter, that is, the seven months from this September to next March, must be devoted to carrying out the following tasks in the proper order:
1 . Make an investigation of rural conditions. 2. Carry out the initial work for Party consolidation in accordance with correct policy. A working corps or working team sent by a higher organ to a rural district must first of all unite with all the activists and better members in the local Party branch and together with them lead the work of land reform. 3. Organize or reorganize or strengthen the poor peasant leagues and the peasant associations and launch the land reform struggle. 4 . Identify class status according to correct criteria. 5. Distribute feudal land and property in accordance with correct policy. The final result of the distribution must be such that it is considered fair and reasonable by all the main strata and that the landlords too feel that there is a way for them to make a living and that this is assured. 6. Form people’s representative conferences and elect government councils at the township (or village), district and county levels. 7 . Issue land certificates fixing the ownership of land. 8. Adjust or revise the rates of the agricultural tax (i.e., public grain). These rates must conform to the principle of giving 253
