ara a

‘tion of the pri

Correct errors

Polands party

leaders adopt
plan of action

_——

As a service to our readers who are anxious to learn
more about the situation in socialist Poland, we here
reproduce a section of the address delivered by Edward
Gierek, first secretary of the Polish United Workers’
Party, to the party's Central Committee plenum on Feb-
ruary 7. The summary of the speech was provided by
the Polish Interpress Agency.

eo eae development of produc-

antes ie work productivity,

conditio 1s basis to improve the living

Rider 4 of the working people, is

ent of a] Important and the most urg-
all tasks facing us today.

Sian directly after the 7th
of all the Ce 20, 1970) to improve first
lies wits oa conditions of fami-
late wi . e lowest earnings and a
lowest oe er of children, to raise the

‘ Saas and retirement pensions.
sum of ae ed for this purpose the

soa 0 million zlotys. We decid-

f peas me for two years the prices
at the 0od-stuffs. We shall strive

Same oe er a gradual reduc-
pro es Of various industrial

' ee ie their production increases
decided fae costs lower. We have

also firmly to counteract the

80-called hidden i
; en inc i i
of goods an d ve in the prices

e a :
better ea poenne no efforts to ensure
dustrial Txet supplies of food and in-
tain im products. I think that a cer-
tie ine Ovement is felt already. Fur-
Dechert can be made only
crease in He an increase in output, an
disposal SH quantity of goods at our
have deciq ith this aim in view, we
articles oe also to import certain
ing impro ut a more marked and last-
tion as a Bement of the market situa-
tome nia depends all on our own

We i
Crease v© 2180 doing everything to in-

© as qui
duction ~ptckly as possible the pro-
one Meat and fats. We ede
to 25 ae the import of grain
this sires tons this year. Out of
Dlied by . y, two million tons are sup-
Considerabi Soviet Union, which is a
ina new, csistance. We shall also
extra Bosition to supply farmers with
150,000 benities of power fodder —
ned, We Ss more than had been plan-
Side with, all also supply the country-
thanks to 200,000 more tons of coal,
Vy miners mona output undertaken
other meas © expect these, and still
elp the ures We will undertake, will
Sion of Countryside in a rapid expan-

livestock breeding.

New Investments

' We 3
the Shall build new investments in

con :
those Pear In

essing 0

With ate a
€velopme
“onomy,

dustry, particularly
most, based on the pro-
Sark Own raw materials.
Seek view, as also for the
ewe various branches of the
credits Shall try to obtain foreign
also N suitable conditions. We are
Co-pro es to undertake industrial

ti ; 5 : '
ches, on in various industrial

It is
the Behe ne. necessary to examine

as of j..), Of the government, as well
of ae ! authorities, on the question
handicrafts and the development of

- It is necessary to ensure

proper conditions for the development
of the activity of craftsmen, above all
of service activity meeting the every-
day needs of the people.

We fully realize that very numerous
families in our country have still a dif-
ficult life. We must work out a pro-
gram of gradual improvement of the
situation of those families. But this
means again the necessity of the ac-
cumulation of material means indis-
pensable for this purpose.

Higher Wages

As regards earnings, their increase in
the last 5-year period was insufficient
and the situation must be changed.
This is, therefore, why we have reject-
ed the previously prepared premises of
the new 5-year plan, providing for a
mere 10% increase in real wages. We
want the increase of real warges dur-
ing that time to be much higher. We
are as yet in no position to say today
by how much it will be possible and
changes to be made in the economic
policy for the years 1972-1975.

As regards the whole of the wages
system, it must be based on the prin-
ciple: each according to his work. The
wages, the sum of earnings, must de-
pend on qualifications, on the share of
the work of each citizen, on the social
value of his work. : :

“Tt is necessary at the same time to

Warsaw — Constitution Square with
the Palace of Culture and Science in

the background.

understand. This,

ensure proper proportions between the
lowest and the highest earnings. The
earnings of the executive personnel
must be consistent with their real
qualifications, share of work and
weight of responsibility. They should
be based, however, on fixed salaries
and not—as is the existing case—on
a complicated system of bonuses which
often defies the purposes for which it
had been created. Bonuses should be
distributed more justly already today.
The government will regulate these
problems.

We have decided at present to lay
aside the system of material incentives
which was to have come into force on
Jan. 1 of this year. It contained certain
correct ideas, but in its concrete form
it actually meant a limitation of wage
increases and a reduction of employ-
ment. We have decided, therefore, to
continue the system of wages together
with the enterprises’ fund, which was
in force until 1970.

Labor Productivity

At the same time, we guarantee
within its framework proper remunera-
tion of higher work productivity.

We have already earmarked this
year a sum of about 2.5 billion zlotys

’ for an increase in earnings based on

the increase of work productivity. This
sum is intended for workers who will
have a bigger output under the system
of piece-work and day-work with
bonus.

It is the duty of industrial unions
and plant managements to create or-
ganizational and technical conditions
for the increase of work productivity.

We must work out a system of wag-
es which will be simpler and easier to
however, requires
some time. We shall be working it out,
of course, in consultation with work-
ers’ crews and specialists:

Better Housing

Housing is another great social prob-
lem which we must be solving more
quickly and effectively. Next. year
15,000 families more than this year
should receive new flats. We must
allot about 600 million zlotys for this
purpose. Apart from that, we think
that it is indicated or even necessary
to use part of the social fund for the
construction of schools and school
hostels, for building some 3,000 dwel-
ling rooms for teachers in villages and
small townships. We have decided also
to increase by 120 billion zlotys cre-
dits for private buildings.

According to first estimates, we
should build and hand over for use in
the next five years at least 25% more
flats than previously planned. The
housing. construction program should
take particular account of the impor-
tant social fact of the entry into life
of a large population of young people.
The prospect of getting a flat cannot,
therefore, be too distant.

The housing problem requires an all-
round, general examination. We would
say an untruth if we said that the solu-
tion of this problem is easy. The hous-
ing reserves of our country are modest
as yet, and the pressure of social needs
is tremendous. The production of

“amine various possibilities.

building materials is insufficient, and
its increase requires large investments.
We must also take into account the
urgent needs in the field of conserva-
tion and repair of old flats, the neces-
sity of the quickest possible improve-
ment of municipal installations and
other questions.

Housing construction is a big and
important social problem.

Call to Youth

Let the present younger generation
—from the Socialist Youth Union, the
Polish Students’ Association, the entire
younger generation—take housing con-
struction into their hands. I appeal
from here to you, young friends and
comrades. It is above all for yourselves
that we want to map out bold plans
for the development of Polish towns,
settlements and villages. Join the con-
struction of a Poland of sunny homes!

Help the state, and help yourselves.
Take this great cause into your hands.

We consider the necessity of im-
proving the situation of working wo-
men to be one of the most important
problems. A. certain slight relief has
been brought about by the recent in-
crease of family allowances.

We are considering and we will ex-
One of
them, a very important one, is the pos-
sibility of transferring women, espe-
cially in smaller places of work, to 4-
hour work shifts. We have instructed
the government to take broader ac-
count, in the program for the expan-
sion of food and light industry, of the
construction of plants in which a 4-
hour system of shifts would be fully
possible. We want to allot our funds
for the expansion of the rietwork of
creches and kindergandens, especially
large interfactory ones, situated in
housing settlements.

For Human Needs

In work for man and in meeting his
material needs lies the basic sense of
a socialist economy. We shall pursue
our economic policy in line with this
assumption. It would, however, be er-
roneous to reduce private and public

life exclusively to the consumption of ©

material goods, as is the case in capi-
talist countries. Of equal importance is
his sense of social security.

We must also tackle energetically
the liquidation of such symptoms as
the worsening of social discipline, a
lowering in the prestige of the appara-
tus and organs of the people’s govern-
ment. Social opinion is disturbed by the
phenomena of hooliganism, parasitic
living, bribery, dishonest accumulation
of wealth, lack of respect for public
prapertys eler.s = :

Now we need time for the accumu-’

lation of further means for the stream-
lining of the most urgent social prob-
lems. We say openly: one cannot ex-
pect too much in the nearest future,
and all the more one must not put forth
unrealistic demands and postulates
which can bring nothing except ten-

sion and disturbances in our life. Let

us consider all problems calmly, in a
business-like manner, and at the same
time with the greatest concern for
their proper solution.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1971—PAGE 9