It is often noted that the official approach to collectivisation at this
point was cautious and gradualist (Xue 1981; Lin 1991c), although some
also argue that the rapid growth of co-operatives in 1954 and, particularly,
in 1955 indicated a strong involuntary element (S. Guo et al. 1989:
114). In 1955, however, there was an important debate about how fast
collectivisation should proceed and the proponents of collectivisation
within the party won. This dramatically accelerated the process of
collectivisation. In 1956 and 1957 advanced co-operatives began to
predominate as a form of collectivisation. In an advanced co-operative,
land, draught-animals and farm implements became publicly owned
property, with compensation paid to former owners (table 2.2). Agricultural
inputs were distributed solely according to work loads.