NINTH PLENUM SPEECH OF MIECZYSLAW MARZEC ON INCREASING PRODUCTION OF BASIC CONSUMER GOODS IN POLAND

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700180413-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 6, 2011
• Sequence Number: 413
• Publication Date: June 2, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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STAT
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NINTH PLENUM SPEECH OF MIECZYSLAW MARZEC
ON INCREASING PRODUCTION OF BASIC CONSUMER GOODS IN POLAND
Nowe Drogii ,
Warsaw, Oct 1953
[The following report of Mieczyslaw Marzec, Deputy Director of
the Light Industry Division of the KC PZPB (Central Committee of
the Polish United Workers' Party), was given at the Ninth Plenum
of the KC PZPR, held in Warsaw on 29-30 October 1953.
The report was
given at the plenum as an amplification of the
featured report of Premier Boleslaw Bierut, "Task of Party in
Struggle to Raise Standard of Living of Workers in Current Phase
of Building Socialism." An English-language translation of
Bierut's report is available in the PAP (Polish Press Agency)
release of 6 November 1953, pages 1-44?1
In discussing the theses and Premier Bierut'a report, it is very important
to explain the real meaning of the tasks set forth and the methods for their
achievement to all party members, to the thousands not in the party, and to
laborers and to white-collar workers employed in light industry, the food in-
dustry, the paper industry, anc' the local industries.
To increase production of basic commodities of the light industry, the
food industry, the paper industry, the local industries, and work cooperatives,
we must improve or even change our style of work. Furthermore, the powiat, the
local, and the wojewodztwo party echelons must give the primary party organiza-
tions more effective aid. The latent reserves in the factories can be found
and exploited if our party organizations, especially party echelons, and peo-
ple's councils will give special attention to the initiative of crews, to the
regional economic and social apparatus, and to the working populace. The
party and people's councils must utilize their experience and criticism.
We must admit that so far our efforts in this direction have not been
very satisfactory.
During 1952 not one of the executive branches of the woJewodztwo com-
mittees of Lublin, Wroclaw, Bydgoszcz, or Lodz wojewodztwos examined the work
of the local industries, the cooperatives, or the food industry. As of Sep-
tember 1953 the situation had not changed basically. I know of only one
instance in small-scale industry where the first secretary of the wojewodztwo
committee and other secretaries visited the central clothing sales office,
stores, and workshops, or rubbed elbows with the people and saw production.
The basic analysis of this sector made by the Stalinogrod Wojewodztwo
Committee and research carried on by certain other wojewodztwo committees
indicate great production capabilities in local industry and in the coopera-
tive industry.
There are also many defects and shortcomings which must be removed to
improve the supply of consumer goods to the people.
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ing consumer needs. Although industry play a great role in satisfy-
has increased g Production of the socialist small-scale industry
greatly, the production capabilities of its plants are not being
exploited properly. In the first half of 1953 production capabilities of
regional industry were exploited only 55 percent by the wojewodztwo adminis-
trations. There were 200-400 machines standing idle in various branch unions
of the small-scale industry.
According to data of the Ministry of Small-Scale Industry and Manual
Trades, the total 1953 value of production of the wojewodztwo administrations
was comprised of 25 percent group "A" commodities [producers' goods] and
75 percent group B" commodities [consumer goods]. In industrial administra-
tions, 44 percent constituted producers' goods and 56 percent consumer goods.
In certain areas the situation is different. For instance in the WZPT
(Wojewodzki Zarzad Przemyslu Terenowego, Wojewodztwo Administration of Regional
Industry) of the City of Warsaw, producers' goods constitute 71 percent of
production in terms of value; in Krakow, 62 percent; in Opole, 68 percent; and
in Bialystok, 83 percent.
In the Branch Union of Metal Products Cooperatives in Stalino3rod, basic
consumer goods constitute 9,6 percent of production while producers' goods
constitute 90.4 percent.
With such an allocation of effort it is impossible for local industry to
s
upply the market with basic consumer goods. Although there is a shortage of
many
produciteedmbas
Goods,A have factories
shifted to the local
production , of which
producers'ly
goods for key industries. The "Postep" Workers' Cooperative in Zabrze, which
formerly produced metal smallware, is now producing electric welders and seats
for the Star motor vehicles. The Workers' Cooperatives in Ustron, which makes
various castings for key industries, could be making hot plates, etc. The
Chorzow, Czestochowa, and Bytom cooperatives, which had been producing metal
smallware, have also shifted to producers' goods.
Neither our ministry, the wojewodatwo people's councils, nor the party
echelons have shown adequate interest in checking the work and plans of the
WZPT and the work cooperatives. They have not fought for adequate assort-
ment of goods nor for the production of basic consumer goods. In most cases
they have not checked the fulfillment of plans in terms of assortments; they
have been satisfied in fulfilling the plans in terms of value. The managers
of the cooperatives have been commended even if the plan of assortments was
fulfilled only 10 or 20 percent. In many instances, as was the case in
Wroclaw, the planning divisions had submitted plans to factories in terms of
value only, without stipulating the type of production. The factories, left
to their own devices, take the line of least resistance and produce invest-
ment goods, which are always in demand and for which raw materials are more
easily obtained.
In my opinion the production of certain producers' goods should be
shifted to key industries. Local industry ought to concern itself with the
needs of the people and the needs of the region and supply them to the best
of its ability. The State Economic Plan for 1954 should indicate the correct
proportion of production covered by centralized plans in relation to produc-
tion covered by local plans. It should also indicate the proper proportions
of consumer goods production and producers' goods production.
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-11-1ustry s no to
demands; instead of complem
entingeitnhas duplicateddthe consumers goods produc-
tion tion of the key industries, manufacturing articles in good supplyginsteadoof
those in short supply. For instance the cooperatives had not fulfilled the
plan in children's shoes, which were scarce, but were manufacturing shoes for
adults. .Because they had exceeded the plan in terms of value, they were
commended.
In trying to fulfill the quantitative plan and the plan in terms of'value,
many
have triedcoopervariouativesshdave
inspectors. on the market and many
The inspectors are becoming more exacting, as shown by the great number
of rejects and articles returned for repair in the first half of 1953. Poor-
quality goods without inspection stamps, goods without maker's identification,
Articles made of unsuitable raw materials, etc., should not be accepted. We
should make an effort to increase the range and improve new models and styles.
The work of the inspectors will continue to he difficult and burdensome unless
we change our attitude toward quality. This change of attitude means a con-
tinuous fight against defective production. We must explain to the workers
that defective production is a crime against the national economy and directly
affects the interests of the people.
Let me say a few words on the services in the villages and production aid
for the working peasants. This problem has not been receiving proper atten-
tion from the managers of local economic agencies, people's councils, or even
the party echelons.
The number of shoeshops, tailor shops, etc., in the villages is most in-
adequate. Services for the repair of farm machines are not much better. Amid
this present shortage of industrial and nonindustrial services there are many
instances of wrong attitudes toward craftsmen (manual trades). Many people's
councils are not interested in the crafts and do not know how to utilize them
in the service of the people.
The theses provide for a 40-percent increase in service.points within
2 years, The Ministry of Small-Scale Industry and Manual Trades can easily
achieve this task if the people's councils and party organizations will ex-
ploit,local possibilities and also if they will provide working space and
raw materials.
We were interested in seeing how this problem was being solved in Nowa
Huta. When our instructors approached a secretary of the precinct committee
in. the matter, he was amazed that we even mentioned the problem of these
services. He said that in this period of industrialization, when Nowa Mute
eas'building a combine and thousands of dwellings, there were more important
problems to be considered than the problem of services.
There are many who do not understand the meaning of services because they
do not appreciate the problem of small-scale production.
At present we are faced with the problem of creating more service points
in the villages. We must take into account the shortage of blacksmiths,
coopers, wheelwrights; etc., and we must show more interest in training the
youth in these trades. We will find many willing applicants in the village
if we take,the trouble to look for them.
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There are many shortcomings in technical progress in our factories. With
more efficient methods our factories could easily improve the quality of con-
sumer goods, but *.they are not always interested in improving their efficiency.
in my opinion we should stress the point which Comrade Bierut emphasized in
his report,-that, after all, the interests and the good of the working man and
the satisfaction of his needs are the goal of all our political and economic
work. We must discuss the problems of the light industry, the food industry,
and the local industry at the plenums and at local, powiat, and wojewodztwo
executive 'cdmmittees. We must mobilize the working masses to increase.the
production of basic consumer goods in line with the directives of the Ninth
Plenum.
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