Section 2 Improving and Developing Rural Post

A. Situation of rural post communication

Before the end of "the Cultural Revolution", rural post service was at low-level, and communication quality was not good. In 30 years, rural population had increased one time while post services increased only 50%. By 1983, there was less than one postman for per 100 km², one branch for 200 km². After the reform, due to the rapid business development, new workers were added, some of which were put into the positions without training. In 1982, 80% of the cases in post departments of corruption, misappropriation of public funds, concealment and destroy of mails happened in rural areas. From the view of the whole post communication system, rural post offices were 80% of the total post offices, post workers were 80% of the total number, service areas were over 90% of the whole area, rural post income were 50-60% of the total income. The position and functions of rural communication became more and more important. Therefore, it was a major project for post departments to change the backward situation of rural communication as soon as possible and open up new situation of rural post work.

B. National Conference on rural communication

To deeply discuss the new problems of rural communication under the new situation and put forward effective measures, MPT held national conference on rural communication from July 25 to August 3, 1985, which mainly studied the principle, policy and task of rural communication in the new situation. It was pointed out that  since the 3rd Session of 1lth Plenary Meeting of CPC, in the rural areas, economy was flourishing, and production developed rapidly. The high tide of learning knowledge, science and technology was surging up. The requirements of farmers for information were getting more and more urgent. The requirements to post were getting higher and higher. At the same time, to serve the Party, the Government and the Army, rural communication departments were supposed to catch up with the new situation of rural economy development, serve agricultural production development and diversified operation, meet the communication requirements of rural specialized households, rural enterprises and all kinds of economic joint ventures.

To change the passive situation of rural communication and improve rural post service, in this conference, besides the decision of increasing manpower, a major measure was adopted to put forward the policy of "combining self- operation with commission-operation to make full use of social forces", which changed the old policy of mainly by self-operation in the basic services on the basis of experiences of all areas. It was required to greatly develop commission business, . carry out contracting out system in post offices and develop rural post stations. It was pointed out that it was a good method of operating post by mass forces, which suited our national situation to make full use of social forces to improve . rural post services. It could rapidly improve communication effect and economic benefit and should be advocated. The conference also made relative regulations and put forward solving methods for the problem of workers' welfare on establishment of rural post staff, modification of production and life conditions, increasing allowance for field personnel.

C. Initial development of rural post

In 1984, the No.1 document of the CCCPC "ten policies about further animating ruraleconomy" put forward that "as an important method of information delivery rural post communication should develop continuously to form a popularized, flexible delivery network", which forcefully promoted the construction of rural post communication. At the same time when MPT carried out the policy of making full use of social forces, MPT further put forward the principle that rural post should be operated cooperatively by the government, local administration, collective and individuals. It carried out the principle that whoever set up, whoever operated would benefited, which energetically supported farmers to set up rural post. This development policy met the requirements of rural areas and encouraged leaders of all areas to attach importance to rural communication, help and support the development of rural Post from all aspects. Post departments adopted many Practical measures. Rural post developed rapidly.

At the beginning of 1984, Anhui Province Promoted the experience of post offices of Dangshan county, which carried out delivery agency in rural areas and contracting postal route by farms to all districts, cities and counties. In that year, there were over 60 counties and cities contracting to establish over 580 postal routes, which were convenient for the mass. On Oct.6, 1984, it was reported on "People's Daily" that "Anhui farmers set up post, with postal routes reaching each village and mails, newspapers sent to home". Meanwhile, a short comment was reported, which appraised that it was a newly born thing that post was operated by farmers. Post departments all over the country carried out the method of the postal route being contracted by farmers. By the end of 1986, rural agencies all over the country had reached 13,000, among which 3,010 were operated by individuals. The number Of rural mail and newspaper stations all over the country had reached 221,546.