JAPANESE PROTEST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22241, 29 January 1947, Page 5

JAPANESE PROTEST

PAY RISE^ SOUGHT “DOWN WITH YOSHIDA” RESIGNATION LIKELY (9 a.m.) TOKYO, Jan. 28. Nearly 100,000 Japanese trade unionists demonstrated in front of the Imperial Palace to-day, shouting, “Down with the Yoshida Cabinet.” The United Press correspondent, quoting well-informed sources, says the Cabinet’s resignation, is imminent. Despite substantial concessions, including a 25 per cent, wage increase, offered by the Japanese Cabinet, Labour leaders insist that a strike of Government employees and nine key unions of the Japanese Congress of Industrial Organisations is certain on Saturday unless all their demands are met.

Representatives of the joint strike committee called at the office of Mr. MacMahon Ball, the British Commonwealth member on the Four Power Allied Control Council for Japan, to present their side of the picture. They failed to see Mr. Ball, bu.t stated their case to a member of his staff, saying that they wanted to ensure that Mr. Ball was aware of the situation in the event of the matter coining up at the next meeting of the council. The New York Herald-Tribune’s correspondent explains that Labour leaders, wjio are bitter over the alleged “interference” by the occupation authorities in the present dispute, are seeking a hearing before the Allied Council. Tile correspondent adds that this is the first move by organised labour since Japan’s surrender to go beyond General MacAr.thur's headquarters.