Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0270, 1946-02-07.

Summary:

Since the reckless revision of the control system and abolition of official prices, the price of perishable goods has been gradually increasing. In view of a gloomy future in the supply of perishables, and sharp comments on the government's do-nothing attitude on the problem, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is determined to grant a subsidy in an attempt to encourage the delivery of perishables by cultivators and to deliver them at cheaper prices to consumers. It is reported that Vice ministers of Agriculture and Forestry and of Finance have framed a general policy on the problem and that the plan has been passed to officials in charge to form a concrete plan.

The plan will be enacted after a Cabinet council. The Government will have reliable agencies to purchase perishable food at uncontrolled prices and deliver them to inhabitants of large cities of the country at reasonable prices. Care will be taken not to allow middlemen to meddle with the sale of the perishables.

Full Translation:

The coercive measures decided on by the Cabinet meeting held recently to strengthen food control, which cover cases of hoarded goods in various areas, await legislation. The procedure, however, is going on very smoothly and the measures are expected to be issued and enforced this week-end or in the second ten days of this month. The method of enforcement appears to be in effect as follows:

The newly introduced measures for strengthening food control make clear that they will meet will requisition cases of non delivery, rice those who will not deliver rice or wheat on purpose despite government order and their real holdings on hand. Notwithstanding the fact that municipal authorities are requested by the Agriculture office to assign to each farmer an adequate rate of delivery, taking into account the condition and quality of arable land concerned, as had been the case with UEDA, NALATA, SHIMODA. etc., some of them have not yet ceased committing the assigning of the delivery rate wholly to local agricultural Associations (NOGYOKAI). The delivery of rice to the Government, if assessed in this way, could only mean the expression of an unqualified judgment. The whole system must be democratized, and if the rate of delivery is fixed incorrectly, failure to delivery the amount fixed must not be subject to punishment.

ECONOMIC SERIES: 270 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

The period fixed for rice delivery is paid general attention. On this point, it may be remarked that most rice deliveries take place in the course of February. Though harvest, thrashing, etc., as well as assigning of the delivery rate to each farmer by the Government, are delayed somewhat by a month, such transgressions as black-marketeering, concealing, secret transportation, etc., are supposed to be met mostly in February, and may be due to the fact that the food situation will be worst in the last ten days of March. The delivery will be ordered to be completed in the course of February, from this consideration, except some areas where snowfalls, etc., present obstacles

Whether the newly introduced measures should refer only to rise and wheat, or also to potatoes and sweet potatoes has not yet been decided. But it is to be remarked that tie second article of the Food Control Law (SHOEURYO EANRI HO) provides "In this law main foods include rice, wheat, barley, rye, and other foods specified by the Imperial Ordinance", listing cereals (grain or pulverized) other than rice and wheat, potatoes, sweet potatoes, taros and their finished goods, biscuits and bread, On the other hand articles, the request giving or receiving of which (including promise) is prohibited, (the phrase to be provided in the regulation rules against hoarded goods), are defined as being rice and wheat and pulverized cereals.

From this point the foregoing measures will be confined to rice and wheat for the time being. However, under certain circumstances it may cover also potatoes, sweet potatoes and their finished goods, soy-beans, cereals other than rice and wheat, biscuits and bread.

The compulsory purchase of hoarded goods by the Government, which is already decided on, and the prohibition of request, giving or receiving or its promise, of hoarded goods, are expected to provided for in the Ordinance for the Enforcement of the Food Control Law (SHOKURYO KANRIHO SHIKOREI), the former in the fifth item of the tenth Article and the latter in the fifth item of the eleventh Article.

Summary:

Today we are in great need of over 1,000 necessary medicines made from several kinds of chemical materials, however, we cannot expect an increase in the production of medicines considering the following conditions of the chemical industry,

We are in want of raw materials for medicines made from tar compound, fuel made from coal, soda compound, acid compound, salt (which is the raw material of ampoul), oils and fats, and other important raw materials. The production of ohlorsulphurie acid, aspirin, salicyllie acid, glucose, and diastase has decreased because of the shortage of food starch. The yearly production of aspirin used to be about 1,000 metric tons. A yearly production of 600 metric tons of aspirin would be adequate for JAPAN. However the production for the last few years—388 metric tons in 1942, 428 metric tons in 1943, 236 metric tons in 1944, 50 metric tens in the first half of 1945, and 43 metric tons (estimated) in the second half of 1945— has decreased steadily, and is still better than the other medicines.

For example, a first-rank Medicine Manufacturing Company, which has the ability to manufacture 12 metric tons per month, is short of salicyllic acid, pure benzol, sulphurie acid, acetic acid, anhyaride, and canstic soda; carbon only is plentiful. The company is making unavailing requests to the Ministry of Welfare.

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ECONOMIC SERIES 270 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

Most medicines are made from more than ten raw-materials; aspirin is made from several raw materials, heart stimulant is made from over twenty raw-materials. If a raw-material is lacking, the medicine cannot be manufactured. As there is no substitute, and the manufacturers must depend upon the chemical industry.

The Ministry of Nelfare and the Medicine Control Companies endeavoured to maintain the supply of raw materials after the end of the war, but have not been successful. The decrease of medicine production seems to be caused by workers leaving the factories concerned due to discontinuance of the extra rice distribution.

Summary:

As a measure to promote the recovery of small and medium industries, the Ministry of Commerce and industry made a request to Industrial unions and factories for the production of commodities to be shipped in return for imported materials. Some companies had been troubled with problems of labor and funds since the end of the war, and some had been paralyzed by the slow conversion to civilian production. But now, they are busily engaging in the production of collateral commodities with full cooperation between employers and laborers. Raw silk is the most important of the commodities. The utmost efforts are now being made for the manufacture of not only silk stockings but also high grade goods. Under consideration is a plan to assist specially the silk-reeling by farmers. Other commodities such as cosmetics, lacquer-ware, ceramic-ware, stoves, electric heaters, watches, bicycles, etc., are now being, produced in great quantity. Some of them are awaiting export in storehouses.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, expecting much of the production of collateral commodities as a most effective step to revive industry, is giving the producers every practicable material assistance such as the supplying of coal, distribution of materials, and so on. In addition, it intends to increase the producers in number and quality, inviting civilian goods plants and munitions plants, and to complete by March the production of commodities for which an order has already been made.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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