Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0321, 1946-02-18.

Full Translation:

The methanol and Formalih Industrial Association fixed the fourth fiscal year's quota of methanol and formalin for various uses, on 15 February. Under extremely restricted supply conditions, the quota of methanol for medicine and the quota of formalin for the plastic (GOSEIJUSHI) industry and for agricultural chemicals occupies a very high percentage.

(Unit metric ton)

METHANOL - For celluloid five, plastic industry 25, for artificial leather 15, photo film 25, medicines 80, paints three, glue five, chemical industry and others 100, electric communication 10 - total 268, reserve, 197, including 185 tons of crude methanol produced by the TOYO High Tension Co. (TOYO KOATSU)

FORMALIN - For the plastic industry 350, agricultural chemicals 300, Medicine and disinfectants 50, synthetic tanning four, paper manufacturing 15, sericin fixing (not yet decided), chemical industry 10, miscellaneous 50, reserve 56.

Full Translation:

The Ministry of Welfare, to cope with the aggravating unemployment situation, is endeavouring to strengthen the Labor Office and also to set up measures to combat unemployment of intellectuals and women in accordance with the recommendation of the Unemployment Committee. Further, in order to establish an unemployment policy on a scientific basis, the Government is planning to present the new Employment Register Law (SHOKUGYO SHOROKU HO) to the Diet session to be convened after the general election. This new bill arises from the national registration enforced on 1 December last and the Government is intending to make it the basis of full realization of employment by registering in detail special abilities and requests of unemployed men and women. These persons to be registered are men from 12 to 60 years old, and women from 12 to 40. Moreover, the Ministry of welfare intends to revise the former Employment Office Law in order to estalish a national employment function, excluding middlemen or bosses from professional employment agencies.

ECONOMIC SERIES: 321 (Continued)

Full Translation:

The Rubber Control Association's (GOMU TOSEI KUMIAI) decision that the reserve of crude rubber stock in rubber factories must be fixed at a three months supply for each factory's manufacturing capacity will be carried out soon.

Hitherto, because of the shortage of crude rubber due to the recant transportation condition, some factories were obliged to suspend operations. With this decision, the distribution will be improved and producion of rubber articles will be increased. Furthermore, the factories which have less than a three months supply of crude rubber, will be requested to deliver their excess of crude rubber.

Summary:

It is understood that in view of the recent tendency among workers on strike to demand a wage increase and various improvements in their labor conditions, including immediate adoption of the eight-hour labor day, the Ministry of Welfare is now working on a bill for a Labor protection Law. (RODO HOGOHO) to submit to the coming Diet for approval, aiming at the improvements of unorganized workers' labor conditions. This legislation will eliminate the handicaps of unorganized workers as compared with organized workers who can improve their working conditions through labor contracts with management.

The following six points are the important elements of the proposed Labor Protection Law: (1) The adoption of an eight-hour day and 48-hour week for general workers; (2) The prohibition of night work for the protected workers, and the strict enforcement of other protective provisions; (3) The raising of the minimum age for employment from 12 to 14 years, which is the standard minimum age for employment fixed by the International Labor Pact; (4) The prohibition of women from working in coal mines; (5) An adequate number of days off for women workers in order to secure observance of sanitary requirements and child-birth; (6) The setting-up of a proper relationship between labor hours and wages.

Full Translation:

The Government has concentrated its energies on chemical fertilizer production as well as on coal production since it has become important in order to overcome the food crisis. The chemical fertilizer production for January 1946 (including production for four days of February 1946) is 21,047 metric tons of ammonium sulphate. This is 65 per cent of the planned production of 32,400 metric tons. The 9,793 metric tons of nitrogen of lime, is 65 per cent of the planned production of 15,000 metric tons. It the present production of 65 per cent of the planned production continues, the total actual production for January to July 1946 will be 193,700 metric ton of ammonium sulphate.

The fertilizer cannot be distributed to the farmers in exchange for rice deliveries as has been promised. The decrease of fertilizer production is caused by the delay arrived of coal and coke due to the lack of transportation and is caused by the worn out equipment of factories.

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ECONOMIC SERIES 321 (Continued)

ITEM 5 (Continued)

The Commerce and Industry authorities are planning equipment for 1948 with a capacity for an annual production of 2,000,000 metric tons of chemical fertilizers by full operation of the existing factories, production will include 1,650,000 metric tons of ammonium sulphate and 460,000 metric tons of nitrogen of lime.

The same authorities are planning to regulate the equipment to manufacture 974,000 metric tons of fertilizers in 1946 including 700,000 metric ton of ammonium sulphate, 360,000 metric tons of nitrogen of lime. They also aim at the production of 1,750,000 metric tons of fertilizers of 1947 including 1,400,000 metric tons of ammonium sulphate, 460,000 metric ton of nitrogen of lime. They are planning to make all factories manufacture fertilizers and expect to maintain 500,000 metric tons as the lowest annual fertilizer output.

The plan calls for 60,000 - 70,000 metric tons of steel bars and about ten billion yen capital. It also requires the smooth delivery of coal and coke, the repair or replacement of equipments and the expansion of the leading offices.

At present, the following twelve factories are desirous of changing to fertilizer production and have the nominal capacity of 1,000,000 metric tons of fertilizers per year.

Methyl alcohol manufacturing companies.

• 1.The KONAHAMA Factory of the JAPAN Hydrogen Manufacturing Company. (NIPPON SUISO KONAHAMA)
• 2.The WAKAYAMA Factory of the SUMITOMO Chemical Industry Company (SUMITOMO KAGAKU KOGYO)
• 3.The OMUTA Factory of the TOYO Industrial Rehabilitation Company (TOYO KOGYO KAIHATSU KAISHA) Synthetic oil manufacturing companies
• 4.The UBE Factory of the Imperial Fuel oil Manufacturing company (TEIKOKU NENRYO KAISHA.)
• 5.The TAKIGAWA Factory of the JAPAN Synthetic oil Manufacturing Company (NIPPON JINZOU SEKIYU SEIZO KAISHA) Military fuel oil manufacturing companies
• 6.The YOKKAICHI Factory of the JAPAN Fertilizer Manufacturing Company (NIPPON HIRYO SEIZO KAISHA)
• 7.The NAGOYA Facory of the JAPAN Fertilizer Manufacturing Company.
• 8.The IWAKUNI Factory of the MITSUBISHI Chemical Sythetic Company (MITSUBISHI KAGAKU GOSEI KAISHA)
• 9.The TOKUYAMA Factory of the JAPAN Nitrogen Fertilizer Company (NIPPON CHISO HIRYO KAISHA) - 3 -

•   ECONOMIC SERIES: 321 (Continued) ITEM 5 (Continued) Lubricating oil manufacturing companies
• 10.The WAKAYAMA Factory of the JAPAN Fat and Oil Company (NIPPON YUSHI KABUSHIKI KAISHA)
• 11.The WAKAYAMA Factory of the TOA Fuel oil Industry Company (TOA NEN RYO KOGYO KAISHA)
• 12.The KUROSAKI Factory of the MISTUBISHI Chemical Synthetic Company..

The following three factories are planning to expand their equipment, and have a nominal capacity of 2,600,000 metric tons of fertilizers per year.

• (1).The KAWASAKI Factory of the SHOWA Electric Industry Company (SHOWA DENKO KAISHA)
• (2).The OMACHI Factory of the SHOWA Electric Industry Company.
• (3).The TOYAMA Factory of the NISSAN chemical Company (NISSAN KAGAKU.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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