Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0204, 1946-01-27.

Summary:

In view of the serious shortage of houses, the MIYAZAKI Prefectural Government Office is now planning to organize a Housing Association (JUTAKU KUMIAI), apart from the House Management Corporation (JUTAKU EIDAN), thereby making houses available to civilians at a smaller cost.

According to this place, 90 houses (each of 15 tsubo of building area) are expected to be built at a cost of 500 yen per tsubo. Therefore, those, who want to get these houses, will be obliged to join the Association and at the same time to pay half the cost to the Association in advance.

On the other hand, it is understood that former military barracks, after some repairs, will be made available to repatriates who are now suffering from the housing shortage.

Summary:

The following is a discussion between a reporter of the KAHOKU Shimbun and the authorities on the building of simple houses.

Q. How is the building of simple houses progressing? And can we rely on the Government?

A. According to reports now in hand, about 120,000 or 130,000 houses must have been built by the first 10 days of January. The building of all the 300,000 houses set as the goal will be finished by the end of March. Approximately four million houses are required throughout the country, and this is beyond the Government's power. It is advisable for people to build their own houses.

Q. How are existing buildings being utilized for housing by applying the Emergency Ordinance (KINKYU SOCHIREI)?

A. Damaged buildings, warehouses, factories, dormitories, unoccupied residences and villas, and space under the girder - bridges of railway tracks will be made fit for housing. Permission for the use of some 5,000 houses has already been obtained in TOKYO.

Q. Then what procedure is to be taken to occupy them?

A. The ordinance provides that the right of use can be given only by public bodies. Moreover, a governor can designate anyone he deems qualified.

ECONOMIC SERIES: 204 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

Q. Then, what will poor people do?

A. That is a question. A single simple house may cost 10,000 or 15,000 yen. And the Government has arranged that public bodies or air raid victims can borrow as much as 10,000 yen with a repayment term of 10 years, the term will be five years for a simple house. Also, one family can borrow as much as 2,000 yen with a repayment term of five years and a 3.6 per cent interest from the People's Cash Office. (SHOMIN KINKO)

Q. What is the position of a person who fails to obtain, a certificate as being a war sufferer?

A. There is another way. The Industrial Bank of JAPAN(NIPPON KANGYO GINKO) will lend as much as 10,000 yen. In this case real estate is required as security, but one can borrow money on the condition that the house to be built will be mortgaged when finished.

Q. How about plots?

A. Nothing has yet been decided regarding the problem of plots. The draft bill of a Plot Law (TAKUCHI-HO) will probably be submitted to the next extraordinary session of Diet.

Full Translation:

A movement has been developing among staffs in each metropolitan bureau or ward office to form their own union. A mass meeting was held on 22 January in the square before the former Metropolitan Office, with an attendance of 2,000 staff employees. They approved the following decisions:

• 1.Prompt payment of funds (1,000 yen) to tide over this winter.
• 2.Promptly putting into effect a 200 yen increase in salary.
• 3.Prompt establishment of effective measures against inflation and the food crisis.
• 4.Absolute opposition to unjust dismissal in which the adjustment of administration will result.
• 5.Prompt establishment of a personnel administration committee on which representatives of the union will have a voice.

Full Translation:

In a 12 - hour interview on 21 and 22 January with Mr. TAKI, chief of the TOKYO Railway Board, 70 representatives of the TOKYO Railway (TO [illegible])Labor Union, which consists of personnel in the head office of this boar submitted a number of demands including the prompt payment of funds (a year's salary) to avert starvation. Mr. TAKI replied as follows:

• 1.The participation of the union in personnel administration is impossible unless the Official Appointment Regulations (BUNKAN NI[illegible]REI) and the Limitation Ordinance (BUNGEN REI) are revised. However, employees can express their wishes by selecting a person to represent them, by voting or other means, and informing the chief of the Board of the result through the committee of the Labor Union. Thus they will play a substantial part in personnel administration. - 2 -

•   ECONOMIC SERIES: 204 (Continued) ITEM 4 (Continued)
• 2.Funds to avert starvation will be paid up to the amount of three or six months' salary, as decided at the Cabinet meeting.
• 3.The retirement allowance will be paid in cash, if possible.
• 4.The Distribution Section (BUSSHI BU) will not be abolished until a co-operative society is formed by personnel of the Board. By that time, it is hoped, the Labor Union will have established a committee for the management of distribution; meanwhile it is anticipated that they will co-operate with the present Distribution Section.
• 5.As soon as an investigation is completed on how the Distribution Section consumed material and how the Headquarters to Increase Food Production (SHOKURYO ZOSAN HOMBU) was managed during the war and since the end of the war, the results of the investigation will be made public.
• 6.For the relief of war sufferers and those who must bear the living expenses of both themselves and their families, I think it is better to establish a Living Advisory Association (SEIKATSU SODANSHO) or to have the Labor Union establish a Committee for Living Improvement ([illegible]-KATSU KAIZEN IIN KAI).

Summary:

On the problem of rice delivery, thirty farmers of TOYOSATO-Mura, TOME-Gun, MIYAGI-Ken held a meeting on 20 January under the chairmanship of Mr. KASUGA, Shojiro, of the Communist Party. Answering one farmer, who complained about the unreliability of the Government, Mr. KASUGA urged an organization of a people's council to consist of representatives of farmers and consumers as well as labor unions to control the collection and distribution of food.

The next day, a general meeting was held by the village farmers in opposition to the Government's compulsory measures. Representatives from several nearby villages also attended the meeting. The following resolution was unanimously passed.

"We farmers want to retain sufficient rice for our own subsistence, and at the same time we are willing to deliver rice to the urban masses. We are ready to organize a people's food management. Commission together with the urban masses if they are willing. The Government is shifting the responsibility for the current food crisis upon the farmers, insisting that it is due to their unsatiated selfishness. The Government intends to align all town dwellers against the farmers. We completely denounce the treacherous Government for this and wholeheartedly support a people's food management."

This resolution will be put forward to the Premier through the Prefectural governor.

A joint conference of farmer associations in TOCHIGI Prefecture, affiliated with the Social Democrat Party, was held on 22 January under the chairmanship of Mr. KANEKO, on executive committeeman of the Social Democrat Party. As to rice delivery, Mr. KANEKO said as follows:

"The delivery of rice cannot be accomplished without appealing to the brotherly love of the farmers. It is now of utmost necessity to give an ample supply of fertilizer, agricultural implements, working clothes, and any other necessities to the farmers. The farmers today are getting these necessities from black market or in exchange for their products, and this is the reason they withhold rice shipments. If these

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ECONOMIC SERIES: 204 (Continued)

ITEM 5 (Continued)

necessary materials are sufficiently supplied,, they will surely do their best to fulfill the allotted shipment. The Government policy, which favors only the landowning [illegible]provokes ill-feeling among the farming masses."

Mr. KAWAHARA, Jiichiro, who is on the preparatory committee for organizing farmer's unions in SADO, NIIGATA Prefecture, expressed his views on the Government's food measures as follows:

"The Government's coercive measures for rice delivery from the farmers merely illustrates its lack of ability. Honest farmers are now starving and they cannot subsist as long as the rice price remains unchanged. It should be raised to a reasonable level."

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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