Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0065, 1945-12-15.

Extracts:

Recognizing the future importance of the silkworm industry, KANAGAWA Prefecture has started encouraging the culture of mulberry saplings. In 1945 the saplings in that prefecture were only 40,000 in number, but in 1946 it is planned to produce 300,000, a gigantic stride toward the increase of seven and one half times last year's number. The authorities have invited 15 farmers currently engaged in the cultivation of mulberry saplings to the Prefectural Silkwoom Supervision Office at ATSUGI where thay held a conference with regard to this project.

Summary:

To alleviate the current shortage of fertilizer, the Agriculture and Foresty Ministry, is now advising farmers mot to use soy beans directly for fertilizer, but to use them indirectly as green manure, thereby supplying more nitrogen to their fields. Now that the supply of soybeans from MANCHURIA has stopped, farmers must do their best to secure fertilizers for increasing food production. Therefore, if farmers put this, method for producing green manure into practice, they should no doubt obtain ten times the nitrogen from the same quanity of soy-beans had they used them directly as fertilizer. This will considerably lessen the amount of fertilizer usually required.

Summary:

Interpellations have been pouring in to the Lower House on the Agriculture Land Reform Bill for two days since its presentation. On Friday, the bill was passed to the committee for further discuss[illegible]n. The landlords opinions as seen from the debates are summarized as follows:

• 1.The excessively high price of rice will not continue forever and is destined to fall when normal crop years set in and the purchasing power of money is restored. Which side will suffer then, the tenants or landowners? Before meddling, with an important problem in haste just because it is of an epoch-making charactor, we have more urgent issues to be handled.

•   ECONOMIC SERIES 65 (Continued) ITEM 3 (Continued)
• 2.The most important point in the farm question is not that of ownership but of good administration, thereby bringing economic stabilization. Division of farmland must be checked.
• 3.The price of rice is now set artificially at a far lower point than the general price situation warrants. Farmland should be valued at higher prices after the price of rice is freed from artificial manipulation.
• 4.Subsidiary problems, such as farmland insurance or facilities for borrowing on mortgaged land will constitute the most important step to be taken before the dissension on the epoch-making Farmland Reform Bill.

HIRANO, a tenant spokesman replied:

• 1.They (landlords) requested an independant law, instead of an amendment to the Farmland Adjustment Law, because the new bill aims at the democratization of farm villages.
• 2.One million tenants will be disappointed in their hopes of becoming independent farmers when the minimum figure of land to be purchased for such purposes is increased to 5 cho instead of 3 cho as originally stated in the Bill.
• 3.The abolition of the agricultural association is the unanimous desire of the farmers. Such a bureaucratic institution should not be made the purchaser of lands.
• 4.The Prefectural governor who from now on will be elected and whose standing is consequently subjected to frequent change, is also not considered suitable as a purchasing authority.
• 5.The purchasing price of rice fields has been fixed at 40 times the amount collected in rent. This should be lowered to 33.
• 6.Instead of having the Farmland Committee consist of landlords, tenants and independent farmers numbering five men, each of the committees should consist of men elected by each village or of representatives from farmers' unions.

The Social-Democratic Party seems to be willing to pass the Bill with considerable revision. The Progressive and the Liberal parties are in opposition to the Bill and are intending to shelve it either by insisting that the Diet net be extended or by placing the responsibility for passing the bill on the House of Peers just before the end of the session. They can also resign as soon as the Election Law is passed.

Full translation:

Authorities of the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry who have been [illegible]consulting with the Mining Bureau of the Commerce and Industry Ministry, the Mine Control Association, and the obtaining of sulphates

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ECONOMIC SERIES 65 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

which are necessary for the manufacture of ammonium sulphate and super phosphorate of lime, have decided to set up the following projects:

1. Reopen closed mines at the earliest date possible; 2. Replenish mining equipment and facilities; 3. Recruit miners; 4. Distribute food to miners; and 5. Raise the selling price of sulphide minerals.

Furthermore, they also agreed to make an effort to duplicate the production figure of 1940, two million metric tons. Reguardless of whether the mining plan is carried out smoothly or not, production for this year will be approximately one million metric tons. Consequently, the minimum amount of chemical fertilizer, which is absolutely necessary, will be secured. But, since the demand for the sulphate minerals is expected to increase in 1946 in accordance with the production of ammonium sulphate, super-phosphates, artificial silk and staple fibre, still more vigorous measures will have to be taken.

The actual shortage of ammonium sulphate will gradually disappear as more is produced from the mines. The anticipated production of the principle minerals is given below. (Unit 1000 metric tons):

SAKUHARA - 500, MATSUO - 40, KAMIKITA - ten, BESSHI - ten, SUWA - eight, HANAWA - five, MAKIMINE - four, TAKARA - three, MUMASHIRI - two.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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