Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0109, 1945-12-28.

Summary:

The majority of coal pits in the KITAMATSU Coal Field, KYUSHU, are of great importance because they produce caking coal, which is very essential for the manufacture of iron. Moreover, in this mine coal for miscellaneous use (SAINOMO) is also produced. The number of such mines was about forty before the war ended. However, before that, there had been over one hundred large and small ones. At the present time, production of this coal has fallen off considerably on account of flood damage and the confusion caused by the end of the war. However, it has slightly recovered due to the fervor of the mining authorities and some of the remaining miners.

These mines were particularly affected by the adjustments and changes carried out during the war. For instance, the output of coal in small mines had fallen off immensely because of absorption by the large capitalists or ZAIBATSU. By the war's end, it was desired that they be restored to their original management, but on account of the various difficulties, damage to equipment, and the devastation in coal pits, the matter could not be settled smoothly. The employment of compulsory emergency workers in coal mines is generally not favored by coal mine authorities because large numbers of such laborers are inefficient as a result of their lack of experience. Moreover, they tend to impose their economic responsibilities on the mine's authorities. The newer free employment system of recruiting common laborers seems to be progressing smoothly. Particularly, the "dormitory system" (NAYA SEIDO), which has been restored recently at the coal pits of KITAMATSU Coal Field, is most admirable for recruiting labor.

However, the most important factor in recruiting of miners is the willingness and vigorous health of laborers themselves. In the KITAMATSU Coal Field, industrious miners are also wanted very much.

Full Translation:

The request to reclaim unused military areas in SAITAMA for agrarian use in order to increase production of food, was granted. Consequently, the prefectural authorities have decided to cultivate those arable moors and waste lands totaling 2457 chobu, and then finish the cultivation of 1656 chobu in 1945, settling a large number of farmers in the area.

The invitation to settlers has already begun. The area to be operated is 970 chobu in military posession, 60 chobu in civilian possession, 546 chobu of cultivated land, 67 chobu of waste land, 12 chobu of moors.

ECONOMIC SERIES: 109 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

The number of householders already settled on the reclaimed land is 658. Forty thousand households of returning farmers are expected to answer the invitation. On the settlement, they are to form villages according to the number of householders and unite into an organization called, the Returning Farmers' Association for Reclamation (KAITAKU KINO KUMIAI), in order to carry out the program with combined effort.

Full Translation:

Agriculture and Forestry Minister MATSUMURA arrived in AKITA City on 26 December and made the following statements on two matters of importance, for the people:

I think that there will be no food crisis for one and a half months because the Government has sufficient rice in stock to last until next April or May and enough confidence to carry out heroic measures to meet the crisis. As to whether the Government is going to create a monopoly of staple foods, I can not as yet make any definite statement, but we are going to strengthen national control over these foods Definite measures on the problem will be introduced at the coming extraordinary session of the Diet. Meanwhile we are going ahead with our crop delivery quota policy.

The bartering between farmers and people in cities, and black market sales will become worse unless something is done. The Government must distribute necessary fertilizer and other agricultural materials to farmers through the agricultural associations. So far agricultural implements and fertilizer have been obtained, but supplying clothing is a difficult problem. This, however, is not the fault of the agricultural associations.

Summary:

The solution of the food crisis, apart from rice shipment by farmers, is said to lie in the importation of 3,000,000 tons of food. Permission for this is being sought from SCAP. As of 10 December, only 2,940,000 koku, or 11 per cent of the expected tota1 of 26,591,000 koku, have been delivered to the Government. On the other hand, it has become increasingly clear that no optimism can be entertained in regard to the importation of 3,000,000 tons of food, despite the favorable assistance rendered by the Allied Powers.

The difficulties of importation are attributable not only to the scarcity of transportation and callateral, but also to the unfavorable food situations in the Far Eastern countries from which the importation was expected. Poor crops in the Far Eastern countries due to the war and bad weather have been reported for several months. CHINA and the PHILIPPINES were reported to have been suffering from food shortages to such an extent that they were given relief from UNRRA. Moreover, the recent news from abroad shows that the food situation is getting worse in these countries. In addition to the poor crops, unstable conditions, both

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ECONOMIC SERIES: 109 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

political and economic, reign over all the Far Eastern lands - KOREA, MANCHURIA, FORMOSA, INDO-CHINA, SIAM, and BURMA. This fact forms a big obstacle in trade.

A rich harvest is reported in KOREA this year. It maybe estimated that KOREA will be able to spare some of its crop for export, but actual exportation is barred by poor transportation and economic confusion within the land. Beside these, Korean rice is to be exported preferentially to MANCHURIA as collaterial for cereals to be imported from there. Under these circumstances, it will be difficult to import Korean rice at an early date into JAPAN.

In SIAM, a 25 per cent decline in the rice crop is reported. In addition as a result of the Anglo-Siamese treaty which is to be concluded shortly, Siamese rice will in all the probability be exported preferentially to MALAYA and INDIA, which are facing food shortages. So, there is little prospect of importing Siamese rice to JAPAN.

There will also be no hope of importing from BURMA, which has already been restored to BRITAIN, with its rice harvest decreased this year by 25 per cent as compared with the previous average yearly crop.

Finally, the situation in INDO-CHINA is not hopeful either. In addition to the 25 per cent decrease in the rice crop, the Government authorities of INDO-CHINA are too busy putting down Annamese riots to arrange for exportation to JAPAN.

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