Tokyo, July 30.
Ministry of Industry and Commerce, which recently banned fashion shows in Japan on the ground that they "incited customers to make unnecessary purchases, contrary to the Government's economy. programme," is now considering extensive dress reforms.
These reforms, which are expected to be made compulsory in the autumn, include the shortening of skirts by three to foun inches, the abolition of pleats, and the shortening of kimono sleeves, over-coats, shirt-sleeves and shirt-tails. The reforms, the Ministry believes, will effect a substantial saving of material. Incidentally, the ban on fashion shows has resulted in throwing more than 1,000 mannequins out of work.
Owners of private motor-ears, already inconvenienced by the rationing of petrol, are to suffer an even harder Dlow in the autumn, when they will be compelled to abandon the use of their vehicles altogether.
This measure is being taken as part of the "save fuel" campaign.
"The 'Tokyo Police Board is equip~ ping the 17,000 policemen and 2,600 Rremen under its jurisdiction with canvas shoes. Tu addition, the police~ men will no longer wear their customary white cotton gloves except on guard' duty for Imperial processions ud other State occasions.
The Ministry of Finance has issued an order allowing the re-importation, free of duty, of empty beer and soft-drink bottles exported from Japan. Hitherto bottles returned empty from abroad have been subject to Customs uty amounting to 100 per cent. of their value, "The 20,000,000 Japan-made bottles estimated to' be lying idle in China are stated to represent an investment ¥.700,000 in' soda ash imported from abroad to make glass. Elimins tion of the duty or re-imported "ompties" will, it 48 pointed out, result in
as obvious saving in Imporis of soda Emperor Sets Example Further economies have been introduced at the Imperial Palace by the Emperor, who wishes to set an example to the nation.
The Emperor is not using the air cooling system at the Palace, and has even dispensed with the use of elec trio fans, this despite the torrid temperature of Tokyo in the summer, His Imperial Majesty 1s also reported to be using cheap Japan-made pencils and a fountain-pen of the type! Henerally used by students, In attending to State affairs, the Emperor wears a plain military uniform, and at other times. an_ine expensive foreign-style sult of Japan-ce. cloth, "The authorities are keeping a sharp. watch to ensure proper observance of the anti-profiteering regulations, and the Central Price Policy Commission of the Ministry of Finance has enforced many cuts.
The latest of these is a reduction in both the price of coal and ico by 10 per cent. Maximum prices have also been fixed for material used in the making of summer clothes, The major Japanese breweries have voluntarily decided not to enforce the increase of one sen a bottle of beer previously authorized by the Ministry of Finance. They will, however, Siseontinue the long-established custom of allowing rebates to whole-alors, who, in turn, are expected 10 stop rebates to retailers, Japanese Press Angered Over Lords Debate Tokyo, July 29.
Asked about conversations between the Foteign Minister, Gen. Kazushige Ugaki, and the British Ambassador, sir Robert Leslie Craigie, a Foreign JOmMice spokesman said today that Sir Robert is "such a hard worker" that _sees Gen, Ugaki very often.
Sir Robert made "many complaints, land representations regarding British interests in China, including Shanghai, out the questions Involved are of such a nature that most of them will foe settled by local negotiation," the spokesman declared.
"The spokesman said Japan is engaged ina "life and death struggle Jand therefore the successful prosecution, of military operations in China fy "claiming Japan's attention frst land foremost."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.