Industry Minutes of the Industry & Manufacturing Meeting
September 12, 1942
Meeting of the Industry and manufacture group held at Block 310 Dining Hall on Saturday, September 12, 1942. The meeting was called to order by Gerald S. Wumino at 8:30 P.M. Mr. Wumino introduced Mr. Susumu Togasaki who acted as chairman for the evening.
"Mr. Burge and Mr. Wumino asked me to explain the industry and manufacture program to you. The main idea of the industry and manufacture is the production of subsistence products, such as tofu, miso, shoyu, moyashi (bean sprouts) noodles within the camp. Other manufactures, production for use, to be considered as possible, are pottery and earthenware, furniture, woodcraft, artistic handicrafts charcoal, home factory products, toys, textile weaving and of course the camouflage net factory. I wish to open this meeting for discussion, ideas, and experiences from all of you and would appreciate your cooperation. This department should be considered a community project not only to produce food and goods, but also as one outlet guiding and encouraging the inhabitants to constructively contribute to the improvement and progress of Poston 3."
Permission had already been given through Mr. Stults to manufacture tofu in Poston 3 and expectations are that such work will begin about the end of September or possibly at early part of October.
The point brought to the attention of the meeting is that industry and manufacture cannot expect to make products which would compete with commercial firms outside of this camp. Due to scarcity of materials for certain types of manufacture, we must use what is on hand.
Although the prevailing salary scale of $12.00, $16.00 and $19.00 per month would enable us to compete with outside commercial firms, political expediency dooms this type of enterprise. Instead it is more important to bear in mind that industry and manufacture in Poston 3 for the benefit of the community would be more practical and fruitful
Mr. T. Teruoka, head of the Art Department, stated that Mr. J. Ocllier make the suggestion that Japanese at Poston be given the opportunity to make various handicraft manufactures, such as potteries, weaving, wood-carving, and others. The Smithsonian Institute has a special fund which might be available for the manufacture of such articles. He wished to announce that Mr. Shirazawa of the Adult Education wishes to hold a Fair about the middle of September in which entries will be of various products made by the residents of Poston.
Mr. K. Harada raised the question: "I would like to know what is to happen to the manufactured pottery and handicraft. Can they be sold in any way?" The W.R.A. will sell such manufactured goods and would like to have the community we the funds for various beneficial activities, such as for recreation and other projects.
Mr. Yutani: "I find that working with mesquite in making small curios and handicrafts, there is not much need for tools and equipment of which there is a great shortage at the present time. There is also a possibility of using some of the waste wood for making charcoal."
Mr. Z. Ota: "I feel that more wages would be the best incentive toward better production of goods. Also better wages would help a great deal toward the purchasing of tools and equipment necessary for production."
QUESTION: Is it permissible to cut mesquite trees?
According to Mr. Wumino, permission is not granted as yet to cut mesquite trees until a survey has been completed. It has been decided that 150 ft. of mesquite border will be left around the camp site to act as windbreak and also as park when the trees have been trimmed and the dead and unnecessary underbrush cleared away.
QUESTION: How would the camp benefit by manufacturing such food products as shoyu, tofu, miso and others, when the army can purchase such goods for us?
The army is paying at prevailing market price for such goods, and even if purchased in large quantities, the manufactured goods by ourselves in camp would be of less cost. Therefore, if we can manufacture such foodstuffs at less cost, we would benefit greatly in that only a certain allocated sum is allowed for food per person. For example if tofu cost the army 5¢ per person, and we can manufacture for 4¢ per person, then we would benefit 1¢ and thus be able to obtain that much additional allowance for other foodstuffs upon the suggestion of the administration.
It was decided at this meeting that industry and manufacturing group is to have one chairman, one vice-chairman, and 6 assistant chairman to supervise, carry on and to administer various projects relative to subsistence and production for use. It is understood that this committee is on a temporary basis. Mr. Susumu Togasaki has been elected by the various members to act as temporary chairman for the Industry and Manufacturing projects in Poston 3. Mr. Togasaki is to select a committee of 6 members and to submit such names to the group for approval at the next meeting.
The meeting was then adjourned.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
There will be a meeting of the Agricultural group, Tuesday, September 15 at Block 310 Dining Hall at 8:30 P.M. subject to change or postponement.
INDUSTRY AND MANUFACTURE SUGGESTIONS
- "Hardwood" furniture from mesquites
- Pottery and earthenware
- Subsistence products--tofu, miso, shoyu, udon, moyashi, char shu, tsukemono, etc.
- Woodcraft and artistic carvings
- Toys
- Weaving and handiwork
- Charcoal
- Novelty ornaments
- I. SUBSISTENCE GOODS
- Tofu
- Miso
- Shoyu
- Bean Sprouts
- Noodles Soba
- Tsukemono
- II. DURABLE GOODS
- Coolers
- Household Furniture
- Office Furniture
- III. MANUFACTURING FOR RECREATIONAL USE
- Playground Equipment
- Slides
- Swing
- Sand box
- Trapeze
- IV. MANUFACTURING OF WAR PRODUCTION GOODS
- Charcoal
- V. MANUFACTURING FOR RELOCATION CENTER EXCHANGE
- Pottery
- Earthenware
- Wood carvings
- Toys
- Chopsticks
- Novelty Ornaments
- Weaving
- Hardwood ware
- VI. ACCOUNTING & DISTRIBUTION
- Cost Accounting
- Distribution of Foodstuff
- Distribution of Recreational Equipment
PERSONS AT INDUSTRY & MANUFACTURING MEETING
- E. Matsumura 307-9-A Toy Industry
- T. Yutani 326-13-A Industry & Manufacturing
- M. Harada 316-14-A Industry & Manufacturing
- R. T. Hara 309-4-B Tofu Manufacture
- H. Iwata 307-3-A Industry & Manufacturing
- S. Togasaki 307-5-A Industry & Manufacturing
- T. Tsuruoka, Advisor 308-9-B Handicraft
- Ben Yamaguchi 326-8-D Industry--Noodles, etc.
- Sam Uyeno 309-9-B Block printing---Farming
- Mr. Arikawa 307-4-D Industry& Manufacturing
- Leslie Abe 330-13-A Industry
- Sam Rokutani 308-6-D Accounting
- Moto Asakawa 330-14-B Industry Management & Manufacturing
- Otokichi Kushino 330-9-D Agriculture
- Reo Abe 309-1-B Farming
- Y. Kobayashi 309-2-C Farming
- K. Shiba 309-12-A Farming
- K. Togioka 309-2-D Farming
- G. Morikawa 309-13-H Farming
- N. Kawaguchi 309-5-D Farming
- D. Uyeno 309-9-B Farming
- S. Fuchiwaki 316-14-F Observer---Farming
- H. Kiritani 309-1-A Farming
- E. T. Takahashi 309-3-B Farming
- Z. Ota 309-14-D Farming
- S. Shiba 309-9-D Farming
- M. Kadsmam (?) 306-6-_ Farming
- G. Rokutani 308-6-D Observer
- K. Suyemoto 309-8-D Farming
- K. Yamane 309-8-A Nurseries
- H. Fujimoto 309-2-A Farming
- T. Sekishiro 309-2-B Farming
- E. Endo 309-3-A Farming
- K. Watanabe 309-3-A Farming
- G. Shiozaki 309-9-A Farming
- T. Umeda 309-12-D Farming
- J. Fujimoto 309-2-A Farming
- B. Sekishiro 309-2-B Farming
* Persons misunderstood announcement. Farm group were present at this meeting.
