LABOUR TROUBLES IN JAPAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13875, 12 April 1907, Page 3

LABOUR TROUBLES IN JAPAN

RIOTS AT ASHIO COPPER MINES, GREAT DESTRUCTION OP PROPERTY. (From Our Ovti; Correspondent.) YOKOHAMA, February 16. Japan, like every other nation that embarks upon a career of industrialism, finds that, the winning of wealth also involves her in labour troubles. So far these have been slight, for though the merchant cla&sea have been banded in guilds from time immemorial-guilds whoso powers lmvo becomo almost omnipotent within tJicir various spheres of influence—the workingman of Japan has hitherto worked for Ins own lono hand—and suffered aecordiii'dy. But during the past few years, and more particularly since the war, a change has come over the industrial world, a change which capitalists view with increasing alarm. The labouring classes have begun to porccivo the strength. which lies in co-operative organisation; they have seen how the merchant guilds, the fishermen's guilds, tho silkinen's guilds, and kindred combinations hold all outsiders at their mercy, and they have resolved to see if thoy cannot go and do likewise. With tho return from abroad of many Japanese who havo seen how the working classes are banded together in Europe, America, and elsewhere, these ideas spread, ' and soon small newspapers calling themselves Tho Labour World, the Workmen's Messenger, etc., appeared to spread the doctrine broadcast throughout the land. Very sopn theso sheets took 011 a more Socialistic lone, and tile attention of tho Government being called to them, the more advanced were suppressed; and the others were told to mend their manners. Some strikes and lock-outs have occurred from time to time of late years, but they havo been on ouch a small scale as to pass almost unheeded. But to-da.y Japan is facing her first big strike trouble, a trouble that has already led to bloodshed and tho destruction of much valuable property. In the centre of Japan, among the mountains which hem in the wondrously beautiful Nikko district—that vale of Paradise which every, globe-trotter that comes to Japan makes a special point of seeing—arc situated the most valuaWo copper mines in the Empire. These mines wero discovered in 1596, and have been worked ever since. At first tho chief profits -wont to tho feudal lord of tho district, then the Sliogun's Government got hold of them, and when the rcvoultion came alone in the early sixties the mines passed into tho possession of tho Mikado's Government. Liko 60 many other government; affairs in these seething times, they proved a source of loss rathor than of profit, and in 1871 a Mr Furukawa Ichibei purchased them almost for _a song. Ho rapidly becamo a millionaire and tho founder of 0110 of the Holiest families in Japan. At the present time tho mines employ about 16,000 persons. Three primary, schools aro maintained by tho proprietors for tho benefit of tho children of their workmen, and of course there aro hospitals and other provisions made for sickness and accidents. The Ashio mines are, in fact, a little world all to themselves, though their products go all over the earth. Tho proprietors themselves aro humane men, but naturally they know nothing, or next to nothing, of tho real state of affairs at tho mines, and abuses havo accumulated to a. considerable extent. The miserablo wages of the miners aro squeezed by tho overseers and paymasters till sometimes out of a nominal 50 sen—one shilling a day— tho unlucky wrqtehes tako homo only 12 6en—i.e., 3d; their stores and provisions havo to bo bought from tho shop established bv tho mmo overeeers, and' 111 these placcs neain extortion and fraud aro rampant. To add to their miseries, the wretched loncmcnts in which thoy aro housed aro kept in a very bad state of repair, and i» tlio mines aro situated at a fairly high altitude, the cold and misery endured as soon as the snowyweather sets in can l:e imagined better than described. Altogether, things were ripening for trouble when a now manager was appointed to tho mines. He soenis to havo been a very unsympathetic individual, and when tho mon, in a preliminary petition, pointed out tho hardships of their lot and asked for an improvement in sanitary conditions, the better lighting of the mines, etc., lie took 110 notice of the compkiinis. Just at ill s time, too, entered upon the scene three Japanese, who have spent much time abroad, and have imbibed in Germany Socialism of tho most advanced type. Hearing of tho discontent of tho Ashio minoiv. thev hastened fhither, and scon a general strike, under their guidance, was being organised. A3 a first step I'.ey drew up another petition in which they demanded, among other th'iigs. an instant rise in their wages equivalent to 60 per cent. It is said that tho proprietors had been thinking of raising th»ir workmen's wages—jo.- 110 0110 can blink tlio fact that tho cost of living ill Japan has practically doubled within the past three years.—but such a rise as 60 per cent, was out of the question. Tlio men's demands were accordingly rejected. Tho deputation wli-'ch had waited 011 tho manager withdrew for a short space, but returned to his office after a heated debate, intent upon giving him a thrashing as one way of getting even with him. Thoy did give him a hammering, nearly killing tho man, and chased him round tho bouse. In the end 110 crept under a verandah, and hid himself so seeurly that his assailants abandoned their quest and returned to f'e mines. Their numbers quickly swelled, and breaking into tho storehouses they loaded up with dvnamite. powder, and other combust ibles. Bombs wero quickly made, and then tiio work of destruction began, livery overseer and oflleial of tho mine that came in their way had to flee for his life, and fires sprang up in ail directions. In the end 200 official residences, two offices. four warehouses, a kerosene oil storehouse, and several workshops went up in smoke and flame, while milling machinery was damaged wholesale. For two day.; the rioting continued. Of course the police were called in, but they were helpless, and eventually troops were sent for, and not till thev arrived was peaeo restored. One terrible punishment bejel the men. They had. set fire lo the principal provision shops, wheneo they had first looted the 6torps of sake, the Japanese rice-wine, and, being engaged in their orgies, they made no attempt to restrict, tho spread of "the conflagration, ncr could the police do anything in that sense, their appearance upon the sceno being the signal for renewed acts of violence. Thus tho tlames extended to the workmen's houses, and 13 of tlio men, who were lving in a drunken stupor, met their death." Before the troops arrived, rumours of their coming were of course circulated, and had the effect, of completely calming the rioters, who, indeed, are said lo have already become penitent when their supply of sake had been exhausted. Needless to say, tlio steps taken by the mine-owners as soon as the riot was over were very drastic. Tliero are three mines worked at Ashio—that of Tsudo, that of Motoyama, and that of Ivotaki. Of these the minors at tlio last, place took 110 part in the riot. Those at the first two mines were required to send 15 delegates to the ollicc.s of the company 011 the loth inst.. where they were publicly informed that all hands employed in those two mines must .consider themselves discharged. Tlie.v were further warned that, according .to the rules of tho company, men dismissed from one mine could not, lie employed at another. Nevertheless, if by noon, on the 11th inst., they made All expression of regret, and pledged themselves to work henceforth in an orderly manner, they would be taken 011 again". Meanwhile provisions would continue to be served out up io the 15th inst., alike to those returning to duly ■ and to those dining to do so. If any' desired lo leave permanently, they must' not expect provisions subsequently to Hint date. ' Over 300 of the miners are under arrest, but stops have been taken to succour as far as possible their wives and children. This is always the saddest part of labour troubles—the privations which inevitably befall the women and children. There is little doubt that the Ashio miners will accept the owners' terms, or tho terriblo cold of winter is against (hem; besides, this is Japan's first big labour strike, and it is scarcely possible that any other result can be expected. In this connection it certainly ' seems very tin fortunate that there has grown up nmongst the Japanese a tendency to associate Christianity with Socialism. This may be traced to the fact ihat Mr Shimadn. Saburo, an eminent politician and prominent Christian, has always been an advocate of Socialism in its best form, and the mass of tho public, in its usual lindiscrirninating fashion, imagines that all Socialists must bo tarred with the same brush. Mr Kbina and Mr Uchimura, two of the leading Christian pastors in Japan, renontly took much pains to disavow (he existence of any relation bctwe'en the faith of Jesus and the tenets of extreme Socialism. They declared that Socialists wero spurious Christians. But that disavowal has not sufficed. Numerous evidences that, the average Japanese regards .(lie two creeds as identical occur on every hand, and in the interests of Christianity it is much to be desired that effective steps should be taken to. dispel this delusion.