Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0124, 1946-01-04.

Full Translation:

There are about 70 damaged vessels in the harbor of TOKUSHIMA. These vessels lie on the river bed of the port, hinder traffic and anchorage. The difficulties resulting are such that a bottleneck in water transportation exists. Some salvage work is now going on but this has not covered the entire area since it involves considerable expense.

Consequently, officers of the Shipowner's Association of TOKUSHIMA Ken have resolved to proceed with salvage work on 4 January, beginning with the vessel TSULASA MARU, sunk near KACHIDOKI Bridge. Mr. OKADA, head of the Association, expressed his views as follows:

"Since most troublesome to leave the matter as it is, our Association has resolved to undertake the salvage work. Prefectural authorities have been aware of this matter, and we have already applied to them for a grant of 110,000 yen. But, unfortunately, we have not yet received any answer. Our Association has decided at last to do the work itself because, if the matter is left as it is, valuable resources might be lost in the riverbed and there would still be the hindrance to water transportation.

"We may have many difficulties, but we wish to succeed in our purpose with the aid of the prefectural authorities. For one thing we want to borrow crane-boats and the necessary machines for salvaging from the prefectural authorities. We need the technical guidance of the TOKUSHIMA Engineering Works. The company's president, OKADA, has promised that he would give complete support. We also expect to have the actual work done by those who are new engaged in salvage work."

Summary:

According to a statement made 15 December by the Commerce and Industry Ministry, major obstacles disturbing normal production of staple goods are said to be lack of material, manpower shortage, lack of shipping, and air raid damage. In general, difficulties are attributable to the coal and manpower shortage. We shall never see dependable industrial activity as long as the people in productive activity continue to criticize each other for lack of effort.

The causes for industrial stagnation can be traced by dividing the problem into two categories: operational and managerial. We must admit that there exists a shortage of materials, such as coal far the iron industry and salt for chemical industries. However, the fact is that even munitions factory, converted to peacetime industry, has a considerable amount of materials, but hesitates to begin activity,

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despite repeated governments prodding. The fact is that capitalists are watching the situation in hope of higher remuneration for production. At the same time, they are fearful of the doubtful supply of materials after they have exhausted their stocks. The latter is being supplied to black marketers through devious channels.

The menpower shortage is not really a fact, since there is a tremendous number of jobless among repatriated troops, civilian services, and voluntary workers. The so-called manpower shortage in reality is not a shortage in the number of workers, but a lack of workers who want to settle down to an assigned job. An investigation made by the steal and Iron Control Association is said to have disclosed that of a total of 50,191 listed workers, or 29.5 par cent of workers at work on 15 August, or more than 50 per cant of tentatively listed compulsory workers, 60.2 per cent had been dismissed. Of 7,000 workers at the MITSUI Chemical Company of MIKE, the absentee percentage fluctuated between 30 to 40 per cent. The reason for this tendency is not foodshortage, as is generally thought, but rather a preference for securing necessities of life and boistering about coal output, for instance, despite the industrialists, almost reached the required amount, but the situation is still discouraging.

Administratively, important enterprises are completely occupied with liaison work, compensations, collection of gigantic wartime advance allowances, discharge allowances, and reports requested by the Allied Headquarters. Consequently, big business is not in a position to take up normal activities. Industrial organizations consider secondary importance the promotion of their employees' welfare. The barter system has been introduced in carrying out their business and conversion into foodstuffs industries, not an enterprise in the strict sense of the word. Food supply for themselves is the real aim of the attempts, while what we should like to have than try is ranching and salt manufacture on a large scale.

Seventy to eighty per cent of the energy in industry is spent on the above-mentioned effort. In short, a drastic change in the labor administration and the elimination of selfishness in business management are the only ways to solve the problem.

Are Japanese industries based on the present capitalistic system fit to carry out labor re-organization? Will they be more benevolent in policy? Those are the questions for study. Officials, politicians, and capitalists want to know the answers.

The Urgent Coal Shortage

An announcement made Sunday by this Commerce and Industry Ministry shows that we are on the verge of industrial collapse. Coal production itself has been somewhat increased, but shipment difficulties still remain the same. Coal hoarding by industries makes the situation critical. The Government announced that it would secure at least 800,000 metric, tons of coal during January of next year, which, adding stock amounting to 320,000 .metric tons, would be 1,120,000 metric tans. This is little improvement when compared to last month's coal supply of a million metric tons. Distribution in metric tons will be as follows:

216,000 - For the consumption at places of production
45,000 - Marine transport
88,000 - To be shipped overseas
4l5,000 - Rail read
28,000 - Steel industry
42,000 - Coke
65,000 - Ammonium sulphite
11,000 - Salt manufacture
60,000 - Home heating in HOKKAIDO
250,000 - Others

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ITEM 2 (Continued)

The distribution above mentioned is the minimum amount necessary to save essential industries from utter collapse.

DISTRIBUTION: "X"

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