1419 The first National Congress of the General Union-of Algerian Workers opened in ilgeria on the 17th of Jarmary. About 400 representatives of Algerian workers in the country, and of those in France, Belgium, and other countries attended the Congress, Premier Hen Bella was present and spoke at the opening ceremony, He pointed out that all ilgerian national organisations, espe cially the Trade Unions, should carry out their acbiv -ities in the spirit of the F.L.N, program as accepted at Tripoli, Within the framework of the Trade Union movement, the workers enjoyed complete autonomy in administration. The Algerian Premier expressed the hope that the Trade Union Movement in the country would play its role in agriculture and Lerarian reform, He said: "The Trade Union Movement will be better arm -6d when agricultural Trade Hnions and their peasant members take their place in construction." He said that some 1,000,000 hectares of abandoned land were under the care of administration commissions, I+ had bes! decid —ed to call the first National Feesants! Congress to study concretely ways and means to carry out agrarian reform," he added. Ben Bolla also called on the Algerian Trade Union ilovement to take part in the administration of vacant industrial properties and in the struggle to reduce the cost of — living and abolish speculation,
At the ond of the conference A resclution waa passed: "is a rev olutionary centre U.G.T.A. (Agricultural Workers! Union) has henceforth the task of strenethening its organisation and carrying cut the Tripoli programme, always supporting the F.L.N. political bureau, and taking an effective and active part in the building of Socialism." It said that the first Wational. Congress of U.G,T.A. called on all agricultural workers, functionaries, cadres, to mobilise their energies, devotion and technical knowledge in the service of the nation, to carry into effect, swiftly and effectively the call of the F.L.N. and the Tripoli program, in order to pool their resources to develop a dynamiam leading to a higher consciousness and to rid the country of all vestiges of colonialism. , it also called on them to back the govermmah policy of austerity. The congress demanded the mobilisation of the masses in nation-wide campaigns to wipe out ignorance, for the protection of health, and for reconstruction, for developing agricul tural production by maans of a real_and effeotive arer “arian program of revolution, for the development of education and professional training, and for development of light industry and the creation Sy of heavy industry. The resolution urged workers to take part in the administration of abandoned properties and in the development of co—cperat -ives after recoiving technical training. Congress reaffirmed ifs firm support for the solidarity of workers in the whole world in conformity with the traditions of international solidarity. The following sugzestions Were endorsed:
(1) Peoples Farms and Co-operatives should be formed on abandoned agricultural land, among the best land of the country, to be administered by workers who would share the profits.
’ (2) Agrarian land exceeding a certain level should be subject to reform, :
(3) Gradual pooling of land distributed to individuals through various forms of co-operatives and by means of govt, aid. The example and the role of the public sector of the agricultural economy would be decisive,
(4) Increase cultivated acreage by reclaiming waste and other land. (About 15,000,000 hectares). Create possibilities for the most povertystricken agricultural workers to lead agrarian reform,