Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0263, 1946-02-05.

Summary:

The Government, in the name of the Home, Justice, Commerce and Industry, and Welfare Ministries issued a statement saying "illegal activities of strikers will be met with stern measures". This statement will be followed by another, disclosing Government opinion on business management by strikers. Workers are keenly interested in these issues owing to oppressive measures brought upon them, through strained interpretations of the law, by the combined efforts of capitalists and officials. As to the propriety of strikers' management of business, there are pros and cons even among Government officials. The strikers' management of the business, among many farms the labor dispute may take, is only and the best way likely to acquire popular support, for the nation is not in favor of interruption of business activities whatever the reason may be.

Though there have been many cases in which disputing workers' managed the business, their experiences are explained as follows: 1. The term of the management is comparatively short. 2. They have learned that they could procure the source for wages and expenses needed to keep on the disputes, by taking the proceeds of sold goods into custody or by collection of the same. 3. They can thus avoid the charge of causing unemployment as well as of closure of plants. 4. Some of the strikers are said to have succeeded in the furtherance of welfare aid, in shutting out greedy brokers, undesirable workers and black marketeers. It is a note worthy fact that the management of business by workers on strike has been tried and has been highly successful in staple industries, such as iron or mining. The workers' management, however, when it lasts too long, has a tendency to cause difficulties in production itself, due to the lack of men experienced in the disposition of goods, in purchase of material and in acquiring running funds. Legal and social support, closer relations between head and branch offices or between technicians, other personnel and workers engaging in actual production are reported to be necessary for smoother production.

Advocates of the workers' management assert as follows: 1. In our revolutionary age of democracy, obsolete and feudalistic orders and laws should be repealed and new ones for the people's benefit must be established. The Government itself does not seem to be firmly confident in the invalidity of strikers' management of business, as is clearly manifested in a statement made on 25 February by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. "We have not yet reached the conclusion that workers management of business is legal, though it may not be illegal." Laws are not keeping up with the development of society. Current ideas must be take into account before it is decided whether or not it is legal. 2. There is no question that despite the urgent need for industrial production, the people concerned are not making every effort. The Government is not determined to effect the revival of industrial activity, though it meddles with stern measures, and employers too are not keen to start their activities on the pretext of the doubt as to whether they are to

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be compensated for war time losses or not. In this situation what is the complaint against workers' management of industries which would help keep production going? It is not illegal. Meanwhile, workers' business management will put a restriction to stock holders' rights and managing personnels' elaim to the business and they will unite to check the workers movement by obstructihg the smooth supply of funds or material.

In this sense workers' participation in business will not be unlimited. The dull atmosphere prevailing among enterprizers and workers' enthusiasm for activity are the present characteristics of the industrial side of the country.

Full Translation:

Against the new prices of fertilizer fixed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to be applicable from January to July 1946, the fertilizer producers have demanded that they must be given further study on the ground that those prices have been fixed regardless of production cost, so that the producers' desire for production may be very much reduced. Upon this demand, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has explained to the producers that the new purchasing prices will be revised again in March.

The producers insist on the following: 1. Though the rise in prices seems substantial, the producers' costs are two or three times the former because of the suspension of Government subsidies to cover differences between costs and prices and because the prices are not applicable for the whole year, while the sales prices have been raised. 2. In assessing production costs summed up by every company, the authorities have approved a five per cent profit instead of the former eight per cent, and further more the profit is limited to the standard cost, granting a 4.5 per cent interest for the surplus amount. This method which was adopted by the army during the war, is favorable in case the company carries on production within its own capital, but otherwise it is rather unfavorable. 3. The new prices have been based on the data presented in November last, and wages are based on last year's figure, regardless of recent soaring wages.

In other words, the producers pointed out that the authorities, having been too eager to prevent unreasonable profits, have utterly overlooked the encouragement of production.

Summary:

The rice supply has much interest to the people who have been facing a food crisis. Though the Government wishes to apply force in the delivery of rice and this is being hotly debated by the people, such measures will not speed up deliveries.

Nowadays GUMMA Ken holds the first rank in rice supply, YAMANASHI KEN holds the lowest rank. The following shows the actual circumstances.

GUMMA Ken.

GUMMA KEN has finished delivering its supply of rice. The actual results of rice supply are 80 per cent (280,000-add koku) of the allotted quantity of 350,000 koku on 31 January 1946, which have been purchased by the

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Government. In the same prefecture, some towns and villages in URAKU-Gun have supplied over 100 per cent of the rationed quantity, for example TATARA-Mura.

The reasons are that (1) the villagers have consented to supply the allotted quantity of rice as the parties concerned have been confident of the present conditions, (2) the villagers have absolutely trusted the rice examiners and have left the stimulation for rice supply to them. (3) The GUMMA Ken authorities have endeavoured to acquire supplementary fertilizers in spring as the barley crop has been a main crop.(4) Some of the executive members of the Agricultural associations who have made wrong use of rice have been eliminate and as a result, rice deliveries have improved

YAMANASHI Ken

This prefecture holds the lowest rank in rice supply. The causes are: (1) the system of returning a portion of the rice to the farmers for their own use was stopped when the city of KOFU was burnt out. As is a result, the honest farmers Who barely had enough to live on till new rice had been reaped, have had to maintain their rice storage. (2) They have not trusted the prefectural government officers concerned with the rice-supply. (3) The prices of raw materials have increased as compared with the prices of rice and barley. (4) Control over vegetables and fish has been removed but control over rice and barley has not been removed. (5) The farmers are forced to buy raw materials in exchange for rice. (6) The landowners and rich men have much rice in store. (7) The barley and other grains are left out of the account for this year rationed quantity of rice. (8) The goods distributed to the farm villages have been made in secret dealings. However, the farmers are ready to supply rice, but they want inefficiency removed.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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