The Cost of Living in Japan.

Southland Times, Issue 12012, 17 December 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Cost of Living in Japan.

Tiiare is much complaint at the increase in the cost ol living in Japan, and especially of the increase in the cost of

"On the authority of a, certain responsible official in the Finance Department, the Tokyo Nichi-Xichi states tliat Dr. Sakatani, Minister tor Finance, is much concerned at the prevailing high price oi rice, mid is now consilient!; nu .ms lor the relief of the situation, hut nothin" definite is decided on as yet. it is retorted in some quarters that the Government has on foot a. proposal to remove (lie import duty on rice, tint this is a very difficult matter. The Government imposed the duty as a war tax, and the Diet has made it a permanent tax. The price of rice at the present time is ruling very high, hut the cost of all commodities has generally advanced, and the iqhole matter is one which requires very careful study. The Government , is experiencing groat difficulty, Uirough a deficit of revenue, and it Is quite impossible for the Government, under the present financial conditions, to rntitvly remove the duty on rice, which would deprive the Government of revenue to the amount of 5,000,000 yen a year. Where could the Government find, asks this authority, revenue to fill the deficit which would be caused by tlhc removal of the duty on foodstuffs ? The removal of the duty is a very difficult question to solve,” •