Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0160, 1946-01-14.

Summary:

The outline of the overall coal situation in JAPAN was revealed on the 10th by the Coal Control Association as follows: Coal output during the month of December totals approximately 843,000 tons and has shown 300,000 tons increase compared with the preceding month, yet it is one-third of the output of July. For 80 days after the termination of the war, it showed steady decline, and it was only 162,000 tons for each ten days in the beginning and the middle of November. But it [illegible]is noteworthy that it is recovering and has reached twice the amount after 40 days.

Coal supply in January is estimated at 1,120,000 tons (lowest estimation). But this amount of supply will hardly meet the minimum public demand. Coal demand in the year of 1946 is estimated at 30,000,000 tons, and a requirement of 5,000,000 tons will be added yearly, so that in the year 1949 the coal requirements will reach 45,000,000 tons. Of course, this figure must be modified according to the condition of the reparations and the reconstruction plan. Although there had been a scanty supply of coal in stock, it was soon depleted. Due to this shortage of coal supply during the past three months, every industry is now in the worst condition. In consideration of the present state of unemployment and the present infavorable condition of necessities of life, we must have the supply of coal so that the industrial restoration may be started as early as possible.

The condition of labor service suddenly turned favorably in the month of December. The total number of new employees in the coal mines of JAPAN in November was 16,000 persons, and in December, it was 48,000, though there were dismissals of 9500 in November and 14,000 in December. At any rate it showed an increase of 30,000 by the end of December, and the sum total of laborers in JAPAN at that time amounted to 232,310.

The following table shows the labor turnover by district during the month of December:

(Note, In the case of HOKKAIDO, in the figure of "going out" Koreans and Chinese were included.)

ECONOMIC SERIES: 160 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

The recruiting of such a large number of laborers in a short period of time is unparallelled. The point is now stressed that in future recruitment of laborers, those young men who can bear the mining work and have a strong will to work in the mines for a long time must be selected.

Postwar coal output for every 10-day period by district (unit 1,000 tons):

REFERENCE COAL OUTPUT OF DECEMBER OF PAST 5 YEARS

Contrast between estimation of coal demand and coal supply plan for January (unit 1,000 tons):

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ECONOMIC SERIES: 160 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

NOTES:

• (1).Mark * indicates the supply of coal only to the factory of ammonium sulphate.
• (2).Mark @ indicates the coal supply for HOKKAIDO only.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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