Govt to abolish funds for special post offcies (Japan)
THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN/DAILY YOMIURI 27th October 2001
GOVT TO ABOLISH FUNDS FOR SPECIAL POST OFFICES
Govt to abolish funds for special post offices Yomiuri The government announced Friday it would abolish the practice of providing general promotional funds, or watakiri, to about 19,000 government-designated special post offices, beginning in fiscal 2002.
The announcement was made by Public Management Minister Toranosuke Katayama after a Cabinet meeting. Earlier he had said that the practice would be discontinued in fiscal 2003.
The special post offices, more than half of which are run by three or fewer employees, have received more than 90 billion yen a year over the past several years to improve and promote postal services.
This practice came under fire Tuesday, when it came to light that post-office chiefs in the Tohoku region had apparently diverted 350 million yen from the funds into secret accounts between fiscal 1994 and 2000.
Part of the money was allegedly used to buy tickets for fund-raising parties organized by lawmakers who once worked for the former Posts and Telecommunications Ministry.
Copyright 2001 The Daily Yomiuri Copyright 2001 The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri. Source: World Reporter (Trade Mark) – Asia Intelligence Wire.
