ACTION IN JAPAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 January 1941, Page 6

ACTION IN JAPAN

TO INCREASE POPULATION

“IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN LEADERSHIP.”

ANNOUNCEMENT IN TOKIO

<By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received This Day. 11.55 a.m.i TOKIO. January 22. The Japanese Cabinet announced today the adoption of a policy aimed at increasing the population

of Japan proper from its 1939 figure of 73 millions to one hun-

dred million by 1960. Japan’s population must be increased, it is officially stated, in order to maintain her leadership in East Asia. The policy envisages a reduction of three years in the average marriage age to 25 for men and 21 for women and five children to each family, compared with the present four with financial aid for large, distressed families. A bachelors' tax will be imposed. Cabinet blames foreign influence for birth control.

The House of Representatives adopted a resolution supporting the Government in its move speedily to strengthen! the nation's war time structure in order to meet a grave situation. The Domei Agency says Cabinet is drafting a Bill whereby it will bo invested with powers, such as disbursements without the approval of the Diet, in order to place the nation on a total war footing. The .Agency said Cabinet considers the present enforced national mobilisation law inadequate.