Land Reform Is Important Part Of Polish Recovery

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 97, 20 September 1948, Page 4

Land Reform Is Important Part Of Polish Recovery

The Polish press recently discussed the implementation of land reform on the occasion of the National Day. The distribution of two million hectares among agricultural workers, small-holders and landless peasants and of a further five million hectares in the recovered territories among 600,000 settlers were only the first steps on the way to the reconstruction of Polish agriculuture. The reform dealt with land reclamation, reconstruction, housing, mechanisation, electrification, 'supply of fertilisers, breeding, education and the co-operatipe movement. Eight hundred machinery centres have been set up. There will be double that number by the end of this ‘ year to provide farmers with machinery according to the principles specially adapted to the needs of small individual farms. To harmonise individual with State interests, a producers’ and marketing co-operation is sponsored by the peasant self-help and neighbour movement. * The number of local and district co-operatives' has reached 3,500, there are 9,000 agricultural education centres, with half a million pupils, whereas before the war there were 170, with 2,000 pupils. One thousand three hundred villages have been supplied with electric light and power, a further 2,500 will be provided with electricity unded the Three-Year Plan.