Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0098, 1945-12-23.

Summary:

The coal situation, which was at its worst in November, gradually improved in December due to the rise in coal prices. The coal output in December is expected to reach 700,000 metric tons, an increase of about 20 per cent over the originally scheduled 500,000 metric tons. It is also expected that in January and February the monthly output will reach about 800,000 metric tons if conditions remain unchanged.

The most important problem at present is the securing of labor to handle the coal stock. In addition to the existing 43,000 regular workers, 2,400 reinforcements and 600 workers converted from metal ore mines, 1,300 other reassigned workers are expected to set to work shortly. It is expected that the number of workers will reach 70,000 by the end of March 1946.

The Government is formulating a plan to establish new Local Bureaus of Commerce and Industry, replacing the existing local mining bureaus and local boards of commercial and industrial management. Eight bureaus are expected to open by the end of the year.

With the aid of the KYUSHU Branch Office of the Coal Association (SEKITAN TOSEI KAI), the Local Mining Bureau of KYŪSHŪ (KYŪSHŪ KŌZAN KYOKU) has mapped out a plan to secure laborers necessary for the restoration of coal mines in KYŪSHŪ. According to the plan, in addition to 133,421 workers as of 31 November, 28,000 in December, 29,000 in January, and 16,000 in February will be secrued so that the aggregate total of the workers will reach 200,000 by the and of March 1946. It will be satisfactory if the output during next March reaches 820,000 metric tons.

About 14,000 workers were employed in November. It is certain that in December more than 20,000 more workers will be obtainable, including about 7,000 additional laborers and seasonal laborers from agrarian districts, usually amounting to more than 20,000 at this period every year. Moreover, in view of the rapid increase in the number of job - seekers of late, it is supposed that surprisingly good results might possibly be expected. However, it may be difficult to fulfill the plan in January and February unless decisive measures are taken at this moment.

On the other hand, coal stocks are almost entirely exhausted. In order to replenish stocks, it is absolutely necessary to attain an output of 620,000 metric tons in February and 820,000 metric tons in March, as scheduled.

ECONOMIC SERIES: 98 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

A reinforcement corps for coal mines, consisting of 1,200 people of the OSAKA Railway Bureau (OSAKA TETSUDŌ KYOKU), left OSAKA on 20 December by special train for coal mines in FUKUOKA and NAGASAKI Prefectures. A special ration of 6.5 bo of rice and 1 shō each of sake and cooking oil is to be given to their families.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has recently decided to restore to the metal mining laborers the supplementary food ration which was suspended with the ending of the war. During the war, metal miners had been enjoying a food ration of more than 5.5 go daily. It was suspended because almost all metal mines stopped operations. Recently, however, some mines have resumed operations, and the Ministry has decided to give a supplementary ration to the people working in mines actually operating. It is impossible to restore the wartime ration of 5.5 go daily at present, when even coal miners are not given more than 5 go daily. It has been decided to give a daily ration of 4.5 go to every individual worker, with at an additional ration to the family.

Full translation:

Commerce and Industry Minister OGASAWA stated that the Electric Power Bureau will establish a special committee to standardize frequency to either 50 or 60 cycles. The members of the committee will be chosen from leaders in the electric industry, electric machine and instrument manufacturers, and authorities in the field of electricity. The committee will start to work early next spring. Japanese electric frequency areas are divided by the FUJI River, with 50 cycles used in the Northeast (TOHOKU) and 60 cycles used in the Southeast (SEINAN). However, the Eastern district of NAGANO-Ken, the HITACHI Factory Zone of IBARAGI-Ken, the KAMAISHI Iron Foundry of IWATE-Kan, and TOMAKOMAI in HOKKAIDO, all of which are actually in the Northwest area, use 60 cycles.

Since the 60-cycle frequency is used mere than the 50-cycle, there are more electric power stations supplying 60 cycles, the ratio of 60-cyole hydro-electric power plants to 50-cycle ones being three to two. Hydro-electric power plants, which were designed to transmit at 55 cycles so as to be able to reach both the Northwest and the Southwest, have been used to transmit both 50 cycles and 6o cycles. Their capacity is 1,300,000 kilowatts or 22 per cent of the total capacity of JAPAN.

Frequency standardization is invaluable for the conservation of electric power and national economy. It has been sought since the beginning of the TAISHO Era. The advantages of standardization are many. The extension of electric power throughout JAPAN will make possible the transmission of electric power to important areas and make available the use of excess hydro-electric power from every area. Moreover, the efficiency of the generation of electric current will be raised.

The previous establishment of hydro-electric power stations on the boundary between the Northeast and the Southwest, which had been designed for 55 cycles, had been operated at both 50 and 60 cycles, and consequently the efficiency of the generation of electric current had dropped. Stan-

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ECONOMIC SERIES: 98 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

dardization will cause drop in the cost of manufacturing electric machines and instruments, and the saving of material will be possible. The standardization of frequency will require from one to two years, but completion of all changes will require five years.

The current situation presents a golden opportunity to begin standardization of frequency, in consideration of the following points:

• 1.The work of standardization necessitates excess electric power, but must not disturb necessary functioning. The fact that at present only 40 per cent of the electric power used at the war's end is being consumed should help a good deal.
• 2.Standardization can easily be accomplished while war-damaged factories are being repaired.
• 3.Though some of the electric machine and instrument factories suffered from air raids, other factories can make electric machines and instruments.
• 4.Many technicians and clerks among the demobilized soldiers can be employed at these important jobs, thus we will have one means of relieving unemployment.

Full translations:

The food situation becomes more critical daily, further aggravated by the indolence and ineptitude of the agricultural associations and the Government. The result may be a failure to produce the quita of rice upon which the Nation is dependant for the April and May 1946 transitional period.

It is no wonder then that the post-harvest delivery of the rice quota has failed. According to a recent survey, the rice crop this year is the worst since 1899, the total yield being about 40,000,000 koku. Delivery of rice immediately after the harvest, when rice appears in the most abundant quantity on the market, showed a 12 per cent decrease compared to delivery at the same time last year.

Consequently, the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry has been compelled to alter the original plans based on a yield of 50,000,000 koku of rice, and to prepare new plans to fit the circumstances. The main causes of this failure are depletion of soil fertility, fertilizer shortages, and lack of confidence in the Government and agriculture association leaders on the part of farmers who have long been exploited under the yoke of feudalism. The present situation suggests no solution other than independent action through co-operation between the producers and the consumers, who themselves are the workers of the Nation.

Full translation:

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ECONOMIC SERIES: 98 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

As approved at the 19 December cabinet meeting, the Welfare Ministry will reorganize its labor and insurance administration in the near future.

The three administrative departments of Labor, Insurance and Government Labor Control (ROSEI) in prefectural governments will be transferred to the administrative section. The labor section attached to the TOKYO Metropolitan Police Board (KEISHI-CHO) will be brought under the control of the TOKYO Public Welfare Office (MINSEI KYOKU). In the OSAKA-Fu government, the labor sub-section will be abolished and insurance and public welfare will be managed by the administrative section.

All activities pertaining to government labor agencies and health insurance shall be handled by the administrative section, the police section being relieved from this activity, and a new government labor administrative section will be established. This section will supervise the execution of the Factory Law (KŌJŌ-HŌ), the Shop Law (SHŌTEN-HŌ) and other laws and regulations directed toward the protection of the interests of labor. It shall, moreover, be the agency to accept reports and applications to the Government on such matters.

Administration of the National Health Insurance Law (KOKUMIN KENKŌ HOKEN HŌ) which had been the duty of the welfare section of prefectural governments, shall be the duty of the insurance section alone.

Summary:

The circulation of notes of the Bank of JAPAN on 20 December amounted to 51,100,000,000 yen, an increase of 1,900,000,000 yen over the circulation of 10 December. The amount in circulation tends to increase still more. This increase is ascribed to the increased withdrawal of deposits brought on by the tendency to change bank notes into actual goods before the war-profit and property taxes are levied. Besides, the increase is to meet a general rise of prices, especially of perishables. The Government announced that it would circulate new yen notes, at the same time taxing popular goods. However, it is necessary to take more effective measures to meet the pending economic confusion.

The increasing withdrawal of deposits to keep pace with the high cost of living is general and is understood to be attributed to improper measures taken by the Government when the fixed prices of perishables were cancelled. The Government should carefully reconsider the distribution system of goods, the stabilization of prices, and so on, in benefiting the masses of people.

Despite the lively circulation of money at the end of the year, no great speculation of funds will be seen this year, and only locally will there be some action because of the selection.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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