Evening star., 1962-09-25

any longer" He has a wife and
eight children-with another
on the way.
Previously be had worked as
a cowboy" on a neighboring
sugar plantation for l bolivar
about % eents) a day.
Nov I sell my crops to the
highest bidder and pocket the
money" he explained.
He reached in his pocket to
produce further proof of new
well-being. It was a govern
ment receipt for 240 bolivars
(about $3.50 in credits to help
irrigate his land.
THE land is ours now. Let
anyone try to take it away"
chimed in Augustin Torres, an
other farmer who had joined
the lengthening procession
around the settlement. Angus
tin had taught himself to read
and write and pointed proudly
to the adobe schoolhouse near
ing completion.
On either side Of rude paths
which are to become the main
streets of la Julia" open
bitches testified to the first
makings of a new sewer sys-
tenn. All along the road newly
completed and still-unoccupied
concrete bungalows stood be-
meath corrugated steel roofs.
Inside, light fixtures were
still nothing but nude wires
waiting for the electric COM
pany to install outside circuits.
Each bungalow was the same
an airy concrete lattice hid a
small kitchen, storeroom, living
room, and two bedrooms. A
combination shower-toilet was
carved into the far outside wall.
THAT toilet is our sign of
progress" said Augustin Tor
res. I'VE have never seen them
before"
The government has con-
structed these new houses. But
they are being sold to the oc-
cupants for 5000 bolivars
(sbout 1,l00) - to be paid
over 20 years in monthly pay
ments of 20 boliyars (about
$4.5o).
Denies Cuban Pattern
The whole visage of La
Julia" bore a striking resem-
blance to one of the new "co-
operatives" once visited in Fidel
Castro's Cuba. A remark to this
effect brought heated denials
from government officials and
peaSant-members alike.
"The Cuban peasant has only
exchanged the private boss for
the state boss" explained Luis
Pinerua Ordaz. president of the
National Agrarian Institute, in
an interview in Caracas.
"Our aim is not to set up
collective FARMS" he contin-
|ued. "It is to consolidate the
private holdings once they are
given"
He and others admitted that
a central aim was to teach the
peasants group living" That
is why they are gathered into
settlements under initial gov
Iernment supervision.
Seek Better Production
Educating the peasant to get
better production is now more
of a problem than actually
finding land to appropriate, /"
said Mr.. Pinerua Ordaz. He
noted that the comprehensive
government program of credits
and advice had actually paid
off in a IL per cent increase
lin production of staples lfk G
wheat and rice since the re-
form began.
"But we have only one year
to convince him." he stressed
After that. we must give him
his title If he is efficient. Then
he is no longer Obliged to take
our help. :. although We are
obliged to offer it." he added
The Betancourt government
has so far spent almost sioo
million on this program ot
settling, advising and givinE
credits to the peasants. That
sum does not include the tonds
given appropriated landlords
About 40 per cent Of the land
formerly belonged to landed es-
tates: the remainder belongs 70
the State.
The process of confiscation
and resettlement can take any
where from three months to
two years. The first step is for
a group of landless peasants in
any given area to pick out land
they desire, to form and regis
ter a peasant syndicate" and
Ito request the local agent OF