Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-20

classes. There they listen TO
the radio, which pours out the
latest editorial from the Peo-
Piles Daily, the latest produc-
ton figures from agriculture
and industry, the latest gov
eminent measures to liquidate
Chang Kai-shek, figures on
how China has surpassed Brit
ain in the production Of vari-
Gus industrial goods.
Self Criticism
Then here is a movie or a play
or an acrobatic show. And last
is the party meeting, which
every worker attends. Here the
matchless art of self-criticism
is oracticed.
People rise up and confess
their drawbacks and failings,
criticize their colleagues and
swear to increase production If
only to regain" Formosa, the
island bastion of the Nationalist
Chinese. Thereafter, everyone
retires for the compulsory eight
hours sleep.
Nursing mothers and those of
ailing children can visit the
public nurseries or kindergar-
tens. though this is not neces-
sary as children are under the
of trained nures and teach
care of trained nurses and
teachers. Parents can give up
their bourgeois emotional at
tachments and stop worrying
about their youngsters.
Is Guarantees
This commune which I have
described is popularity called
1.-THE Commune of 16 Guar
antees." Everybody, according
to the age group and sex of
the individual, is given Is
guarantees. They are:
/. Clothing clothing is still
a problem because of the cold
climate. Heating is poor)
2. Food.
3. Housing.
4. Transportation (from res
idence to place Of work..
S. Maternity benefits. EX-
pectant mothers are given As
days leave and a quantity of
red sugar, which is a must for
expectant mothers in China.
6. Sickness leave and free
medical aid.
7. Free old-age care.
8. Free funeral and burial.
The director of the commune
told me that they would like
to give up burial for cremation
but the people were preiudiced
in favor of traditional inter-
ment. So they are adopting
what is now called deep bur-
ALL" The body is buried at least |
10 feet deep so that they can
use the land, which otherwise
might be a graveyard, for or
chardS.
8. Free education.
10. A small marriage grant
and a free reception for the
couple.
IL. Twelve free haircuts a
year.
IL. Twenty free bath tickets
a year. (Hot water baths).
Is. Free bringing up of chill
dren.
IA. Free recreation.
IS. Free tailoring.
16. Free electricity.
Incentives Cited
After reciting these benefits
- a kind of cradle to-grave
insurance - in return for I'M
questioning, lifelong hard
labor, the director asked me,
What more can one want?"
Nothing" I confessed, but
can you obtain a pack of
cigarettes, for instance?"
I'VE have not overlooked
that" the director replied
happily. Though we have
abolished the need for money,
we have provided certain in
centives to enable a person to
earn S yuan month" That |
is, If any worker shows ire
mendous integrity and ability,
or perfects a new technique,
he gets a reward of to
5 yuan a month. In pur-
chasing power, l yuan is about |
equal to l Indian rupee. The |
rupee is worth about 81 cents.) |
This is a kind of bonus"
the director added. Though
no one has yet earned the full
amount"
Lack of Privacy
This is the commune where
human beings are reduced to
the level of inmates in a ZOO.
But there is a difference. The
animals in a ZOO do not have to
work hard, and, what is more,
they don't have to listen to
the quasi-compulsory radio. |
The lack of peace and quiet
3 II - ~ - n - 2
The Ideal
FIREPLACE FUEL
cleon, Convenient, Economical
;;jDregtO.lOdcr;.
~ Truds Mark Reg. Oh nj