Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0067, 1945-12-15.

Full Translation:

The present coal-burning electric generating plants in JAPAN were constructed to supplement the hydro-electric power generators. Their generating capacity was roughly 1,300,000 kilowatts in 1932 and 1,500,000 kilowatts in 1937, but thereafter this was increased to about 3,000,000 kilowatts, generated at 117 places. Air raids damaged electric generating plants and equipment with a productive capacity of 1,000,000 kilowatts. The distribution of these plants by districts is 75 per cent in HONSHU, 18 per cent in KYUSHU, five per cent in SHIKOKU and two per cent in HOKKAIDO.

If the Allied Forces remove half of the electric generating plants for reparations, we will not suffer too great difficult in producing electric power, for the remaining 1,500,000 kilowatts generating capacity would still be about 50 per cent of our present needs. In considering the question, the following points should be kept in mind:

• 1.The generating capacity of Coal-Burning plants has fallen off considerably recently because of the stringent employment situation and reduced coal supply. Therefore, for the purpose of a normal power generation of 1,500,000 kilowatts, we can get along with only two-thirds of the boilers now in existence in Japan.
• 2.As for hydro-electrically produced power, there are only a few hydro-electric plants in the KYUSHU and CHUGOKU districts. Therefore, one-third to one-half of the electric power in those districts has depended upon coal. Consequently, the removal of coal-operated plants in those districts would cause some difficulties in supplying electric power.
• 3.We could co-operate by unifying power plants which operate at cycles, and the 50 cycle power plants, which depend on coal, could be selected for reparations.
• 4.The present situation in electricity is such that in order to develop peacetime industries or to take care of the reduction in hydroelectric generation in the winter, it is necessary to construct new dams and other works for electrical transmission.

ECONOMIC SERIES: 67 (Continued)

Full Translation:

Regarding the five year plan of reclaiming 1,550,000 chobu of wasteland for settlement by 1,000,000 families, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry published its interim report on 8 December.

Plans are being contemplated to reclaim, within the current fiscal year, 20,000 chobu by larger groups of settlers, each group to cultivate more than 50 chobu, and 100,000 chobu by smaller groups, each group to cultivate less than 50 chobu. Due to the lack of a unified governmental policy as to the disposal of land owned by the Army, the undertaking went very slowly initially. However, by the joint efforts of students, the food Production Reinforcement Corps, the prospective settlers and the reclamation of about 1,000 chobu by larger groups, about 23,000 chobu has already been reclaimed. It is expected that accommodations for about 100,000 families will be completed within the current fiscal year.

Students and demobilized servicemen, as well as mobile Agrarian Mechanization Corps, are helping to expedite the work so that all land allocated for spring seeding will be reclaimed during the winter. Of 231 Army-owned lands suitable for agriculture, about 50,000 chobu will be cultivated shortly.

Due to the shortage of building materials, construction of houses for settlers has made very slow progress. To cope with this housing situation, it is contemplated to utilize existing establishments, such as military dormitories, public halls, and [illegible]rural private houses as residential dwellings. On the other hand, it is expected that the Farm Land Cultivating Corporations will do their best to speed up construction with a preferential supply of lumber from the nation's forests. Each settler will get a daily [illegible]rice ration of 3.6 go, and an additional ration will be given if possible. In addition to about 2,000,000 hoes and sickles which will be supplied through the Farm Land Cultivation Corporations, agricultural associations and prefectural stocks, about 90,000 small implements, such as saws and axes, will be manufactured within the current fiscal year.

Settlers, composed of demobilized servicemen and air-raid refugees in every prefecture, estimated at about 100 to 200 families. About 4,000 families were settled in HOKKAIDO but, owing to several inconveniences, such as insufficient housing, no fruitful result has been attained, particularly concerning settlers from TOKYO and its vicinity, most of whom have returned home.

The standard size of a farm for one family is five chobu in HOKKAIDO

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ECONOMIC SERIES: 67 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

and one and one-half chobu in the TOHOKU Area. The planting of a variety of different crops is suggested to settlers for increasing their means of livelihood.

Summary:

Pyrethrum may be cultivated in the SHIGA Prefecture which has about one foot of snow in winter. The white chrysanthemum (Dalmatia) is better suited for its manufacture than the red variety, which generally is cultivated as an ornamental plant. Seed of the Pyrethrum will be purchased at the INNOSHIMA Examination Farm of the HIROSHIMA Agricultural Experimental Station.

In warm districts it should be sown in autumn; however, in the SHIGA Prefecture spring would be a better time. The seeds should be sown in a nursery (5 SHAKU per TSUBO) about the middle of May, and screened from the sun in order to retain moisture. About September the young shoots should be transplanted to an open field. This plant likes ground with good drainage, but it is possible to cultivate it even on rocky soil. Excrements, ashes of vegetation and miscellaneous fish - lees are admirable, fertilizers for cultivation. Generally, the fertilizer should contain more potassium than nitrates. The present production price for Pyrethrum is 13.50 YEN per kan in dried flower form.

Mr. YOSHIUE, Shosuke (Independent) made the following proposals at the afternoon session of the Farm Land Committee:

• 1.The Government should set several different prices of rice to adopt it to different incomes of the consumers; 2. Compulsion rather than encouragement, should be used to increase productions of fertilizer for home use; 3. The Government should be quicker to adopt the results of civilian studies of fertilizer and other subjects, eliminating any[illegible]sectionalism in the use of equipment and in studies along these lines.

He has also interpellated on whether the unfair method of shopping rice will be continued. Agriculture and Forestry Minister MATSUMURA has replied that with the drastic shortage of farm products some obstacles in shipment may be unavoidable. Nevertheless, the present method of rice shipment must be continued.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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