Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0214, 1946-01-31.
Date31 January, 1946
RepositoryRauner Special Collections Library, Dartmouth College.
Call Numbersocial-1049
Call NumberDS801 .S84
Persistent Identifier
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SOCIAL SERIES: 214
ITEM 1 Social Work in MIYAGI-Ken - Provincial Newspaper Kahoku Shimpo. (Sendai) -
27 Jan 46. Translator:
M. Ohno.
Summary:
A conference to discuss the management of social work was held on 25 January at CHOSEI-EN
House of SENDAI-Shi. MIYAGI
Prefectural Governor, CHIBA; Prefectural Sectional Chief, NOMURA; Chief of the Social
Section of the same Prefecture, MORI; a
prosecutor, HAYASHI; Chief of the welfare Section of the SENDAI Municipal Office,
SUZUKI; head of the CHOSEIEN House,
KUNIYASU; and 30 others attended.
Many opinions on how to meet the vicious social circumstances were heard at the meeting.
CHIBA said, "A relief fund amounting
to 200,000,000 yen was distributed to various prefectures throughout the country.
The allotment to MIYAGI-Ken was 2,580,000
yen. On this occasion, I intend to supply the poor people with daily necessaries.
As the establishment of public lodging,
dining rooms, public boths and barber shops requires an expenditure of about 7,000,000
yen, the Prefectural Social Work
Association (KEN SHAKAI JIGYO KYOKAI) is considering the matter. I want the enforcement
of social work to be conducted mainly
by civilians, while Government officials will assist them."
PISONNETO said, "As soon as the American Troops came to this place, they gave large
quantities of goods to the orphanage. They
think those acts are only ordinary ones."
OHSAKA said, "Among delinquent boys, there are many weak-minded ones and idiots.
These boys must be specially protected.
However, there are no houses to accommodate them."
ITEM 2 Distribution of War Surplus Goods in NAGANO-Ken - Provincial Newspaper Shinano
Mainichi Shimbun
(Nagano), 28 Jan 46. Translator: Y. Akabane.
Summary:
Instructions were issued to deliver to the people of NAGANO Prefecture as promptly
as possible the war materials returned by
the Allied Forces, but due to the difficulty in transportation coupled with the slow
action of the distribution organs,
delivery to the people has not been satisfactory, and these materials are now being
heaped up in various provincial
warehouses, Aside from their being the object of envy by the local residents, they
are now heightening the peopled suspicions
about the uncertaining of distribution methods, as there are a number of cases of
theft owing to the imperfect methods of
storage and supervision. The prefectural authorities are now going to encourage distribution
organs anew, stimulated by
repeated instinctions from the Home Ministry demanding speedy distribution, and voices
are crying for fair and prompt
delivery.
The following are the conditions of storage of these materials in NAGANO Prefecture:
SOCIAL SERIES 214 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
a. Rape-seed oil, etc., in NISHICHICUMA-Gun:
In the fields near the public hall and national schools in the village of NARAI,
about 9,000 cans of rape-seed oil and 8,470
cans of machine oil - each of 18 litres - are laying idle, making the people envious.
This is in addition to over 65,000
kilolitres of other types of oil in drums. The oil is exposed to robbery every night
and police are posted to guard the
oil.
b. Japanese soybean sauce and Miso in KITAAZUMI-Gun:
There are sanitary materials still awaiting distribution, though a part of them will
be distributed by the JAPAN veterinary
society and the JAPAN horse society; the remainder will be distributed by the prefectural
agricultural association. Clothing
and leather in the town of IKEDA are being disposed of by a local distribution agency.
Moreover, 236 barrels of Japanese
soybean sauce, 1,290 boxes of dried Miso (bean-mash) and 128 barrels of dried plum
pickles are now in NANAKI-Mura awaiting
distribution, while 270 boxes of food and 427 boxes of nutritious food are to be sent
to the Occupation Forces.
c. MATSUMOTO and its neighboring districts:
In these districts there were many military warehouses scattered in various sections
with enormous quantities of war-materials
such as soya beans, Kaoliang, clothing, paper, construction materials, automobile
parts, gasoline, etc. A portion of these
materials was concealed by villagers and other unauthorized parties and partly disposed
of illegally; but with the arrival of
the Occupation Forces, concealed materials were discovered and delivered to the prefectural
authorities for proper
distribution. The supervision of materials still remaining in storage is being entrusted
to town or village offices but there
are frequently thefts, and the police are posted to guard these goods.
d. MINAMI AZUMI-Gun:
A large quantity of foodstuffs are in storage in these districts and a part has already
been delivered through regular
channels; the remainder will be distributed by the end of March. Moreover, there is
still a pretty large amount of veterinary
materials stored in warehouses of several brewing companies, awaiting legal disposition.
e. KAMIINA-Gun:
About 15,000 Kan of ammonia sulphate are in custody in several places. Prefectural
agricultural associations are consulting
with the authorities concerned as to their disposal. If they are released, farmers
will be greatly convenienced. There are
many straw-bags, rope, and straw mats stored in farmers warehouses infested with rats.
It is rumored that 90 bales of rice and
a certain quantity of canned beef, salt, and Japanese soybean sauce, as well as 800
pairs of gum boots, were hidden in a
warehouse in INA-Machi in October by a certain army officer.
f. KITASAKU:
No largo stores of concealed war materials are formed here since almost all of them
have been discovered and duly disposed of
already, though there are still minor eases of offences regarding their delivery and
disposition.
- 2 -
SOCIAL SERIES: 214 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
g. SUWA-Gun:
30 tons of sugar, 14,000 boxes of canned oranges, each containing 4 dozens, and a
large quantity of dry broad and
miscellaneous cereals are in storage, attracting the attention of the people. Sugar
will shortly be sent to MATSUMOTO for
distribution. It is believed that some concealed materials have yet to be discovered,
though the quantity may not be
large.
h. SHIMOTAKAI-Gun:
Cotton and cotton thread amounting to 8,000 Kan, woolen blankets, silk, and various
valuable medical materials still remain
stored in warehouses in this locality.
i. CHIISAGATA-Gun:
About 6,000 blankets, 3,500 pairs of socks, 2,000 pairs of pants and 2,000 canteens
are in storage in several warehouses in
the city of UEDA. As there is a danger of rats and thieves, the local officers are
hoping to dispose of them as soon as
possible.
j. In the other Gun in NAGANO Prefecture, the materials in question have been or
are being disposed of by proper methods,
although there may be some cases of illegal distribution.
ITEM 3 Laborers Pay Law and Minimum Wage Bill - Yomiuri Kochi - 30 Jan 46. - Translator:
M. Ohno.
Summary:
In consideration of the current vicious inflation and the contradictions in the existing
Wage Control Law (CHINGIN TOSEI REI)
and the Company's Management Control Law (KAISHA KEIRI TOSEI REI), the Government
is making efforts to draw up a now draft
called the Laborer's Pay Law (KINRO SHA KYUYOHO).
However, the price of commodities has soared on a large-scale since the termination
of the war, causing various labor
disputes. These facts show that the revision of the existing Wage Control Law is an
urgent matter. To meet this, the Central
Wage Committee (CHUO CHINGIN IINKAI) has been deliberating on the problem of the wage
increase, and on 28 January a definite
plan, called the Minimum Wage Amendment Bill (SAITEI CHINGIN KAISEI AN), was drawn
up. According to the Bill, the monthly
minimum income of a man between 30 and 50 years of age who is head of a household
is 450 yen, and that of a woman between 20
and 40 years of age, is 150 yen. Points of the bill are as follows:
- 1.A fixed scale of minimum wages is secured.
- 2.The new system of wages will become the basis of the Laborer's Pay, Law which is expected to be submitted at the forthcoming Diet session.
- 3.If the Government does not take suitable steps to stop the current vicious inflation, this minimum wage system will become meaningless; and furthermore, production and efficiency bonuses which are to be fixed by the new Laborer's Pay Law will become impossible.
- 4.With the ten-fold raise in rages, a clause to the effect that the Government shall take prompt action to lower the prices of perishable foods is included in the Bill.
This shows that the Central Wage Committee is reproaching the Government for its
insincerity. These points caused considerable
dissension at the meeting of the committee. Details on the Bill are as follows:
- 3 -
SOCIAL SERIES: 214 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
Minimum Wage Amendment Bill
A. Extent of Application:
As a rule, all laborers to whom the existing Wage Control Law applies shall be covered.
A new rule to except from this Bill
laborers on probationary employment for less than 60 days shall be added.
B. Minimum Wages:
(1) Male Laborers.
Ages: Zone:
A | B | C | D | E | |
Less than 16 years old: | 2.00 yen | 1.80 yen | 1.60 yen | 1.40 | 1.00 yen |
16 to 20 years old:4.00 | 4.00 yen | 3.60 yen | 3.20 yen | 2.80 yen | 2.00 yen |
20 to 25 years old: | 7.00 yen | 6.30 yen | 5.60 yen | 4.90 yen | 3.50 yen |
25 to 30 years old: | 12.00 yen | 10.80 yen | 9.60 yen | 8.40 yen | 6.00 yen |
30 to 50 years old: | 18.00 yen | 16.20 yen | 14.40 yen | 12.60 yen | 9.00 yen |
(2) Female laborers:
Less than 16 years old: | 2.00 yen | 1.80 yen | 1.60 yen | l.40 yen | 1.00 yen |
16 to 20 years old: | 4.00 yen | 3.60 yen | 3.20 yen | 2.80 yen | 2.00 yen |
20 to 40 years old: | 6.00 yen | 5.40 yen | 4.80 yen | 4.20 yen | 3.00 yen |
The above is the minimum daily wage for eight hours of actual labor. For each hour
exceeding the eight hours there will be
added a sum corresponding to one-eighth of the above; additional time less than 30
minutes will not be counted, while time
exceeding 30 minutes shall be calculated as one hour, In the case of a one-hour wage
system, one-eighth of the above shall be
considered one hour's minimum wage. In the case of a monthly pay system, the above
sum multiplied by 25 shall be the monthly
minimum salary. In the case of a piece-rate system, the minimum wage shall be derided
similarly to the one hour system.
Concerning the different minimum wages in different zones the Prefectural Governors
shall decide suitable wages in
consultation with the provincial wage committee, in accordance with the various circumstances
in the city, town or
village.
The payment of non-absentee allowances, regular attendance allowances, payment in
kind, and bonuses etc., shall be included in
the scope of this Bill. The estimation system for payment in kind shall be abolished.
Relation With Other Wage Control Laws.
With the enforcement of this minimum wage law the maximum Starting Wage Law, the
maximum Wage Law, restrictions on the total
earned income, and other regulations such as these shall be abolished. Unreasonably
high wages shall be controlled by Clause
13 of the Wage Control Law which will be drawn up by the Wage Committee. The Company
Management Control Law regulating the
salaries of company officers shall be revised.
Remarks: In view of the social changes caused by living costs and so forth, the minimum
wage may be properly justified.
Additional resolutions:
- 1.The Government shall take prompt, concrete steps to lower the prices of perishable
foods.
- 4 -
-
SOCIAL SEREIS: 214 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued) - 2.The Government shall make efforts to equalize the prices of manufactured goods with the new wage standards. The Government shall also take suitable steps to check the rise in prices caused by the unjust calculation of capital expenditure.
- 3.With the revision of the minimum wage law, the Government shall take suitable steps to protect the unemployed.
DISTRIBUTION: "X"
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