Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0108, 1945-12-29.

Summary:

In order to encourage the democratization of the motor transportation industries, the Transportation Ministry has decided to introduce to the forthcoming extraordinary session of the Diet, a bill for revising the Motor Transportation Industry Law (JIDOSKA KOTSU JIGYO HO). It intends, at the same time, to eliminate bureaucracy as manifested in the present associations (KUMIAI) and Joint Associations (RENGO KAI) and reform them into wholly new organizations before the revised law actually is enforce. In this connection, a strong difference of opinion exists between the Transportation Ministry and the industrialists concerned. The latter want to form three separate Associations (RENGO KAI) for freight, buses and passenger cars instead of the two present Associations (One of which concerns itself with freight, and the other with buses and passenger cars). They have gone so far as to hold a general meeting on 10 December, nominating Mr. NIKURA, Fumio, as chairman, in order to encourage the execution of their plan.

The formation of the Association of Bus Transport (NCRIAI JUDOSHA RENGOKAI) was also expected soon, The Government authorities instead, want to form, one Association, including freight, buses and passenger cars. Under the circumstances there is a strong tendency on the part of the industrialists to hold out for the said triple system and carry it into effect independently.

Director MITSUO of the Automobile Bureau of the Transportation Ministry (UN-YUSTO JIDOSKA KYOKUCYC) expressed himself on the subject as follows; "I am of opinion that the union of these three organizations into one is of merit and that is may strengthen the voice of our automobile industrialists in general. Their triple system plan might prove to have some degree of merit, especially when the fact is noticed that passenger automobile industries were idle during the war. A way could be found to assert themselves even under my plan, when three subdivisions are created within the one united Joint Association itself. Possibly we could, manage to come to an agreement. I should like to underline the point that we must achieve a favorable position on international relations for our automobile indsutrialists."

Full Translation:

This year's tea crop will be complete with the yield of the winter coars tea crop. This year's yield of tea for distribution amounts to about 3,500,000 Kan including the winter and autumn coarse tea. The original

ECONOMIC SERIES: 108 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

estimate for SEIZUOKA-KEN was 8,000,000 Kan and equals to about one-third the prewar yield. The total yield will amount to about 5,000,000 Kan, including the war-spoiled tea and the tea for black market. About 1,200,000 KAN have been shipped outside of SHIZUOKA-Ken. SHIZUOKA-Ken authorities, after a conference with the Agricultural Association, decided various measures for tea production in 1946. The yield of tea in SHIZUOKA-Ken which is one of the important collateral products to pay for imports, is about 80 per cent of the whole yield in JAPAN.

The yield of tea in 1946 is estimated at about 6,000,000 Kan including about 20,000,000 pounds for trade collateral, including:

The prospect is gloomy, judging from the yield in 1945. The area of the tea gardens is 10,440 chobu, about 40 chobu less than before the war. In consideration of the current situation, THE SHIZUOKA-Ken authorities are considering a. plan for fertilizing the tea gardens, procurement of materials and laborers, and the rational management of tea manufacture, Heating, pre-crumpling, etc. will be done by the electric heaters instead by coal, charcoal, or firewood.

Full Translation:

Fishing-boats, essential to the increase of marine food, have dwindled in number because of damage and the difficulty in Reconstruction. The prewar 1,087,000 tons (354,000 boats) have dwindled to 795,000 tons (318,000 boats). One-third of the remaining vessels is left unrepaired. This is becoming a great hindrance to the recovery of the marine industry. Both the Agriculture end Forestry Ministry and the Communications Ministry, with a view to speedy restoration and construction of the necessary shipping, introduced a proposal concerning this matter to the Cabinet Meeting held on 24 December, and obtained the approval.

The project is to be carried out immediately, and the main points are as follows: 1. Naval craft fit for fishing will be transformed (with accessories) into fishing-boats. 2. Tank-steamers and carge beats, which can, will be transformed into fishing boats. 3. In addition to the above mentioned measures, boats win be promptly constructed.

The number of supplementary boats which will be increased by the transfer from other industries and by construction will amount to 330,000 tons during the coming year. Therefore, the total tonnage one year hence will be 1,125,000 tons, including one-third of 795,000 tons to be repaired along with the above-mentioned 330,000 tons of boats. Estimating the damage during the one year at 100,000 tons, the balance of 1,040,000 tons of boats will be obtained.

Furthermore, in order to carry out this project, the transfer of military materials to civilian use is under consideration, and preference in using the necessary materials will be given to the industrialists concerned; all the facilities and availability of shipyards an iron works will be given to these industries. Also, to facilitate these activities, there is under consideration utilization of the Industrial

- 2 -

ECONOMIC SERIES: 108 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

Equipment Corporation, (SANGYO SETSUBI EIDAN), the procedure for budget, loan of necessary funds to the industrialists, the renewal of the Fishing Boats War Insurance Indemnity (GYOSEN SENSO[illegible]OKEN NO [illegible]OS[illegible]OKIN), the Conscripted Fishing Boats I demnity (C[illegible]OYO GYOSEN NO [illegible]OS[illegible]OKIN), the utilization of the Shipbuilding Fund Supply Law (SENPAKU KENZO YUSHI HOKYU) and the Loss Indemnity Law (SONSHITSU KOSKOHO).

Full translation:

To overcome the postwar salt shortage, the Finance Ministry has speeded up a plan which will convert airdromes into salt field and has now obtained approval from Supreme Allied Headquarters for the use of 25 airdromes as salt fields. Having completed a delimitation of those areas with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, construction of salt fields will rapidly be carried out.

The acreage of those airdromes amounts to about 4,170 CHOBU and will produce approximately 350,000 metric tons of salt annually. But this estimated amount cannot be secured before the three years required for making salt fields complete, and next year's output will be no more than 80,000 metric tons. The Monopoly Bureau of the Finance Ministry has already appointed salt producing companies to the airdromes, some of which are already operating at their new function. Approval for the conversion of 2[illegible]additional airdromes has been asked of Allied Headquarters. If approved, these areas will be assigned, for the time being, to those which produce for self-supply and which will later be directed to specialize in salt production for the general market. The companies assigned to the 25 airdromes are as follows:

- 3 -

ECONOMIC SERIES: 108 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

DISTRIBUTION "X"

- 4 -