K. This is the 1st working draft of vol. VI. It still ... - From Marx to Mao

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IN THE ANTI-JAPANESE WAR
those peasant households which have a good record in rearing silkworms.
Moreover, the commodities Bureau should buy the peasants’
silk through the local co-operatives and order woven-silk articles
from the peasants in order to promote the expansion of the silk
industry.
The total investment in the above three undertakings, spinning
and weaving, oil-pressing, and silk, is 2,600,000 yuan (yarn spinning
1 million, cloth-weaving 1 million, oil-pressing 300,000 and
silk 300,000). Although these funds are not great, they can stimulate
the people to progress a little in solving the urgent needs of the
moment. In 1943, when we have even more experience, we should
consider increasing the amount of capital. Spinning and weaving
FROM MARX
TO MAO
are particularly important. Unless the people set-to and the public
⋆
sector helps, the problem cannot be solved as a whole.
Here I have only taken up spinning and weaving, oil-pressing,
and silk. Other items have not been mentioned. The counties can
according to actual circumstances, do research into handicrafts which
are related to the people’s economy and which need stimulus from
the Party and the government, and they can make their own plans.
NOT FOR
COMMERCIAL
5. ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CO-OPERATIVES
There were already co-operatives in the Border Region during
the Civil War period. Since the War of Resistance began, the Bor-
der Region government has continued to promote them, and after
five and a-half years of hard effort they have gradually expanded.
In the four years from 1937 to 1941 the number of consumer cooperatives
increased from 130 to 155 and the number of co-operative
DISTRIBUTION
members from 57,847 to 140,218. The share capital grew from 55,525
yuan to 693,071 yuan. The value of sales increased from 261,189
yuan to more than 6,008,000 yuan. Profits rose from 4,800 yuan to
over 1,020,000 yuan, and the public accumulation fund [gongjijin]
increased from 3,500 yuan to over 173,000 yuan.
If we compare the October 1942 statistics for the nineteen county
capitals with those of 1941, the number of co-operative members has
increased from 97,297 to 115,899. The share capital has risen
abruptly from over 712,900 yuan to more than 6 million yuan, and
the profit has also grown from 858,000 yuan to more than 3,398,000
yuan.
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