§ 112. Mr. Rees-Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what decisions have been arrived at with reference to land tenure and the ownership of industries in Japan; and whether he will take steps to introduce State ownership of land and nationalised industries into that country.
Mr. McNeilIn compliance with directives from the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, the Japanese Government have recently taken action to ensure more equitable distribution of land tenure and of the ownership of industries. Under the Agrarian Reform Bills passed by the Diet on nth October, all absentee landlordism will be abolished. Land holdings will be limited to certain fixed amounts and land will be redistributed to create a larger number of small owner-farmers. The laws provide also for greater security of tenure for tenants. The great holding companies which have had a stranglehold on Japanese industry are to be dissolved. A Holding Company Liquidation Commission has just begun work in Tokyo and the question of the ownership of industries after the holding companies have been broken up is under discussion in the Far Eastern Commission.