1.
GV PAN... MINISTRY BUILDING PAN TO TENT OUTSIDE.
0.05

2.
SV EXT. OF TENT.
0.08

3.
SV INT. MINERS IN TENT.
0.11

4.
SCU MINERS (WEARING MASK).
0.14

5.
CU MINER'S FELMET.
0.16

6.
SV DOCTOR EXAMINES MINER'S CHEST.
0.20

7.
CU DOCTOR.
0.22

8.
CU STETHOSCOPE.
0.26

9.
CU MINER IN MASK.
0.28

10.
SV MINERS, SOME LYING DOWN.
0.31

11.
SV DOCTOR EXAMINES EYES, EARS, NOSE, THROAT.
0.35

12.
CU EXAMINES CHEST.
0.38

13.
STV MINERS IN TENT.
0.42



Initials JRG/S/MR/LW



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: UNEMPLOYMENT - MINERS ARE GOING ON HUNGER STRIKE ABOUT IT IN TOKYO, POINTEDLY OUTSIDE THE OFFICES OF THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY.

MINER'S PROTEST ARE MOST A DAILY AFFAIR IN THE CAPITAL AS UNEMPLOYMENT SPREADS IN THE JAPANESE COAL INDUSTRY. WORK AT PITS HAS BEEN REDUCED AND MACHINES ARE DOING MORE OF THE MEN'S WORK AT OTHERS - IT'S ALL PART OF THE MINISTRY'S RESHAPING OF THE HITHERTO UNECONOMICAL INDUSTRY.

TWENTY-FOUR MINERS ARE ON THE HUNGER STRIKE AND THEY'RE WEATHERING TOO A BITTER COLD THAT DIPS BELOW FREEZING EVERY NIGHT. KEEPING A CHECK ON THEIR PHYSICAL CONDITION IS A DOCTOR, SUMMONED BY THE MEN'S UNION, AMID A BLAZE OF PUBLICITY.

MUCH OF JAPAN'S COAL TROUBLE, AS IN OTHER COUNTRIES, IS OVER GROWING INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION AND RISING PRODUCTION COST. OIL TOO HAS BECOME A CHIEF CONTENDER TO DISPLACE COAL AS AN INDUSTRIAL FUEL.