Progressive control will effect a wholesale revision of the nation's consumption standards, according to the "Miyako Shimbun," which considers it extremely likely that Article 8 of the National General Mobilization Law will be invoked for more rigid application of control over personal consumption of materials. This Article lays down:
"In time of war when national general mobilization is found necessary, the Japanese Government may, in accordance with provisions of an Imperial Ordinance, give necessary orders in connection with the production, repair, distribution and trans-for of general' mobilization materials, as well as in connection with their disposal, use, consumption, possession or moving."
Even daily necessities, says the newspaper, will be reduced to the minimum required for sustenance, while all possible materials will be turned into the munitions industries; for the increase of the nation's productive capacity and for the export trade, by which foreign exchange may be obtained to enable Japan to purchase abroad such essential materials as cannot be obtained at home, Private consumption will be limited to the minimum standards of housing, clothing and food, the "Miyako Shimbun" continues, and the produc-lion and importation of anything other that for State purposes will be limited as far as possible to absolute domestic needs.
This means, the newspaper explains, that the Government's authority will extend into every corner of private life, dictating the conditions, extent and circumstances of clothing, dwelling, eating, marriage funeral services, memorial services, coming-of-age ceremonies and other personal affairs, At the same time, the Government will apply compulsory restraint on spending money for luxuries, amusements, merry-making and anything else that tends toward the undue consumption of materials and come modities.—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.