Unese cures alone snow Inar walle the sector still owned and controlled by seeded [and harvested] the bosses has co-operatives using human and mechanical resources have creativ increased oroductIon Many misconceptions about the Agrarian Reform have arisen as a result of the slanders and nes or me bourgeois press It is of crucial importance to smash these misconceptions in order to clear the way for ine buildina or a movement or support in this country for the Portuguese workBIS The following statistics show that the Agrarian Reform is not failing.
WHEAT Co-operative areas 515,700 Other areas. 51,000 566,700 OATS Co-operative areas 108.8U Other areas 20,500 189,300 BARLEY Co-operative areas 105,700 Other areas 13.000 118,700 The Alentejo region of Portugal used to be rte with unemolovment. ane ine land was farmed very poorly. Now there is no unemploymen 60-00 more Pecirasia Maria Machado, for instance, has expanded its workforce.from 50 to 210, and the efficiency of the farming is constantly increasing.
cudos a day [£2] now women's cary have gone up from 80 escudos [£1.50] to 130 escudos [£2.50]. Living nave imoroved and ine creation of new schools and creches has eased the work or women while increasing ine care and education of children.
AREAS SEEDED IN 1975/76 1975/76 Difference with 1966/75 [avg] + 108,800 - 25,000 - 05.000 18500 1,300 3,100 23,600 Portuguese prime minister Mario Soares has ordered that 101 farm properties taken over by agricultural workers should be handed back to their former owners. Meanwhile 520,000 hectares of land in the Alentejo which are eligible for immediate expropriation according to the terms of the Agrarian Reform still remain in the nanas or bavate owners.
earned 100 over by the workers coincides with the earn 180 escudos second anniversary of 28 September 1974, earnings when the workers and peasants throughout the Standards country prevented the attempted coup by Spinola.
Socialist Party Government is kicking the peasants off the land and justifying their action by the law.
Government have so far met without the slightest resistance on the part of the peasants, The press talks 'gentlemen's agreement' that has been reached between the Communist Party+ 27% led Agricultural Workers Union and the authorities. The Stalinist papers praise the clarity and political maturity of the agficultural workers.
+ 12% 6% + U% -19% defeat for thousands and thousands of and Communist Parties opposing Ene The reoccupation of the land taken mobilisations of the Reform.
Today, two years later, More importantly, the actions of the "gentlemen's agreement' aDouL LnC owners and WOrKerS СТІСИ However, what is taking place is a loudly to defend it — namely the Socialist The SP in the Government is dancing to the tune of the CAP (Confederation of Portuguese Landowners) who, apart from Agrarian Reform lock, Stock ane bater nave recent auched a big attack on the present Minister of Agriculture, Lopes Cardoso. This gentleman, who lies on the left wing of the SP, solemnly announced only a few days ago mat mere was no need tor further occupations to complete the Agrarian Presumably the owners of the outstanding 520,000 hectare (1,284,920 acres) will snow ine same ponnica maturity' as the peasants who are currently being thrown off the land. Doubtless the expropriation of all this land will cast be peacerny carried our touowing between the exploited agricultural Or perhaps the army will be mobilised and standing by to prevent any 'trouble" from breaking out, just as it has been put on the alert today to ensure that the peasants (who of course are not gentle men) observe the directives of the GovThe success of this operation is extremely important for the Government, for it is ine irst major attack on te conquests made by the peasants and workers following 25 April 1974. The fact bosses who still own their own businesses he announced that a law would shortly be passed allowing them to sack workers if uncy so wisnee