Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0168, 1946-01-15.

Summary:

In order to check vicious inflation and also to stabilize national livelihood, a new price policy must be set up. The Government is busy setting up the policy with the help of the Currency Policy Committee (TSUKA TAISAKU IIMRAI). On the other hand, public opinion is supporting the control of prices.

The outline of the price control program likely to be set up is as follows:

• 1.The withdrawal of price control on fresh foods and every day commodities has stimulated producers willingness to ship these goods and has also given them a chance to raise their prices. On the contrary, various legal incomes of the people, for example wages, can not increase keeping pace with the upward tendency of commodity prices now prevailing. This is menacing the national life.
• 2.The erroneous price policy set up soon after the war's end has brought about this tendency. The Government thought that the withdrawal of control would mean that many foods would be shipped, and prices would be lowered as the low of demand and supply requires. The reality, however, is quite different from what was expected. The reasons are rather obvious: a. Civilian savings and deposits have made the people rush to look for goods and heard them because of the changed form of purchasing power. b. The absolute supply of staple food has been cut. c. Due to the coal shortage transportation has been badly crippled all over JAPAN. d. The production program of civilian foods has not had the expected result. In the height of these explanations, prices can not help but again undergo control, because this problem cannot be solved immediately.
• 3.The control of price need not always follow the once adopted low price policy. The necessary thing is to level prices of goods as soon as possible. The necessities of life, staple foods wages, coal, fertilizer, iron, etc, also are forced to be raised. Prices of any other goods will be quoted proportionately with the prices of the necessities of life.

•   ECONOMIC SERIES: 168 (Continued) ITEM 1 (Continued)
• 4.Each commodity makes contribution to the national life. The utility of one thing is now greater than another and so on. Commodities will under-go a gradually weakened control in proportion to their importance. The greatest factors to the national life, staple food, salt, coal, electricity, transportation, etc., will be strictly controlled in the light of production, price and distribution. If worse comes to worst, governmental management may be anticipated.

Full Translation:

Due to the coal shortage, the Government railroads have had to reduce their schedules. However, the stock of available coal at the NAGOYA Railway Bureau has been increasing steadily recently due to the frantic activity of the coal mines. Fortunately, since 10 January, the amount in stock has reached over ten days' supply. For this reason the NAGOYA Government Railway Bureau has decided to restore 50 trains, including 15 trains on the TOKAIDO Line, 4 trains on the CHUO West Line, 4 trains on the CHUO East line, 5 trains on the KANSAI Line, and 8 trains on the KOKURIKU Line. Most of these trains which have not been running since 21 December, had been formerly used by passengers for traveling to offices and schools. Consequently, the season tickets for students which became void, will become effective again. The operation of freight trains will be increased by three per sent. An increased number of freight cars are scheduled to be used in the transportation of rehabilitation materials and goods that have special transport permission.

Full Translation:

Gunpowder will be distributed as a fertilizer for growing wheat and barley. In AICHI Ken through the efforts of the Headquarters of the 25th Division of the Allied Forces, they have been able to obtain 250 metric tons of gunpowder which had been stored at the military depots in KOZOJI Mura, HIGASHI KASUGAI Gun. They will transport and distribute it to farmers as fertilizer for the purpose of growing wheat and barley. As a result of testing by the Prefectural Agricultural Research Laboratory, it has been found that the amount of nitrogen in the abovementioned gunpowder is 18 per cent in T.N.T. and l6 per cent in Trinitrophenetole. This is quite a high percentage, neatly that of ammonium sulphate, and containing more than Chile nitre. This is the reason it has been adopted as fertilizer. The authorities concerned presented to the Headquarters of the 25th Division a petition for the disposal of the said gun power. At this time when there is a great shortage of fertilizer the prefectural authorities are exceedingly happy up[illegible]n learning the good news. If it is distributed at the rate of one Kan per tan, the 3340 chobu in this area will be able to raise better crops than last year. As it is dangerous in its present form, it will be mixed with some earth when transported.

Summary:

With the coming farmland reform, there is a major question of how the rent in cash system must be brought into proper relationship with the

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ECONOMIC SERIES: 168 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

rent in kind system; that is, the question of the rate of conversion between the two.

The agriculture and Forestry Ministry mapped out a practical plan in this respect on 12 January, after several discussions with the Farm Land Reform Deliberating Council (NOCHI KAIKAKU SHINGIKAI).

The rate of conversion between rent in kind and rent in cash is as follows:

Farm products other than those listed above, will be converted into money, based on the average price during the ten years from 1928 to 1938, multiplied by 3.103. Thus, the price of these products will be made public by the prefectural governors with the approval of the Agriculture and Forestry Minister. In case the prefectural governors deem the price inadequate, another price for these products will be published with the approval to the Minister.

Average prices for the 1928-1938 period follow:

Summary:

The Labor Union Law (RODO KUMIAIHO), which was passed at the last extraordinary session of the Diet, goes into effect beginning 1 February. The Government, however, taking into consideration the frequent labor disputes of late, has hastened to establish a labor committee based on that law. Selection of members of the new labor committee is now in progress carried on by Government authorities in strict confidence.

As part of the proceedings, the Government requested to Mr. MATSUOKA, Komakichi, attached to the Federation of Labor Unions (SODOMEI), to recommend the labor members. In response to this request, Mr. MATSUOKA laid down the policy by which even a man who is not attached to the Federation of Labor Unions can be elegible if he is a man of experience and ability in labor union problems. So far only NISHIO, Sechiro, KATO, Kanju; ARAHATA, Kanson; and AKAMATSU, Tsuneko, who are attached to the Federation of Labor Unions, have been mentioned.

Under the present labor movement, not only the Federation of Labor Unions but also the Association for promoting United Labor Unions (TANITSU RODO KUMIAI SOKUSHINKAI) has participated in its activities. The Government is expecting that the selection of the committee members will advance most smoothly.

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