Title: Minidoka Irrigator, Vol. 1, No. 3, 9/22/1942, (denshopd-i119-00003)
Densho ID: denshopd-i119-00003

The Minidoka Irrigator
Vol. 1, No. 3
September 22, 1942

Fair Labor Board to be Organized. Labor Disputes Will be Aired

A board to hear all grievances of workers will soon begin functioning, it was indicated today as Placement Officer Harold James announced that election proceedings for the selection of a seven-man Fair Labor Practice Board are rapidly being worked out.

The board will hear the complaints of workers who feel that they have received unjust treatment in regard to employment, working rules and unemployment compensation.

Need for such a board has been demonstrated through the volume of grievances which has flooded the Placement Office in the past six weeks, James said.

The board members, who will be elected for six-month terms, will represent the following four major groups into which workers will be classified: agricultural, public works, dining halls, professional.


First Co-op Store Opening This Week

In response to growing interest developing around the camp co-op movement, the first of two super co-op stores will open in Recreation hall 30 sometime this week, John Essene, supervisor of Community Enterprises, revealed in a weekend statement. A similar store is planned for Block 12.

The announcement came as the culmination to a membership drive which has been declared a success even before its end. That over 2000 Minidokans have attended the recent showings of the co-op films is further evidence of the rise in co-op sentiment, Essene declared.

The various services, including barber shops,

(Cont'd. on pg. 2)


Coal Expected Oct. 1

The community's order for 20,000 tons of coal will arrive October 1, and distribution will follow immediately Howard W. Mann, Senior Procurement Officer, assured community residents early this week.

"The Public Works Division is confronted with a coal distribution problem but by the time the coal arrives, they expect to have a working plan in order," Hann said.

"Carloads of coal are coming in daily from coal companies neighboring the camp. Because of the limited supply of local fuel dealers, it is impossible to make coal available to all residents until the government bids roll in," he said.

Eventually 250 tons daily is expected. Since an average of 125 to 150 tons will be used a day, the surplus will be stored for emergency use.


Paper Issues Hunt Edition

Its front page devoted to the Minidoka WRA project, a special edition will be issued by the Twin Falls Times-News Thursday.

About 2,500 copies of the issue will be distributed without charge to residents here.


[Page 2]

The Minidoka Irrigator Staff

Published by the WRA at Hunt, Idaho

Managing Editor ..... Dick Takeuchi
News Editor ..... Jackson Sonoda
Copy Editor ..... Tony Gomes

EDITORIAL STAFF
Special Reporters ..... Dyke Miyagawa, Rube Hosokawa
Reporters .... Daiki Miyagawa, Taka Oka, Makiko Takahashi,
Sumio Itami, Kenji Tani, Yuji Hiromura and Taka Ichikawa.
Artists ..... Karl Fujimoto, Takaaki Hirai, Chiseo Shoji.
Typists ..... Gertrude Takayama, Takako Matsumoto, and Shizuko Kawamura.
Circulation Manager ..... Thomas Yamauchi
Technician ..... George Minato


Editorial: A Forward Step

No professor's familiarity with economic intricacies is needed to appreciate the benefits offered by the cooperative system. Co-ops were born of the indisputably practical idea that men with a close community of impractical idea that men with a close community of interests will, in the long run, gain the most for each other by rejecting the chaos and ruthlessness that is so often characteristic of competitive, private enterprise.

And the solid contributions of the co-op system to the economic well-being of the common man in every nation where government exists for the many instead of the few, has pretty well silenced all derision and accusations of impracticability.

The rapidity with which Hunt's colonists are adopting the consumers' cooperative association as their own is an encouraging indication that there is plenty of practical sense around to assure a stable foundation for this community-in-the-making. -- D.M.


More on Cooperatives (Cont.)

beauty salons, laundry and dry cleaning establishments, and radio and shoe repair shops, will be housed in the two super stores, along with the dry goods supply and other community needs.

Plans outlined under the permanent co-op organization include taking over the assets and equities and assuming the liabilities of the camp's temporary enterprises. The association will be the permanent proprietor of all consumer concerns in camp, in keeping with WRA regulations banning private enterprises.

Stamps equivalent to the amount of each purchase will be given the consumer, who is to keep them in a convenient stamp book to be issued, under present plans. Cash rebates will be in proportion to the amount recorded in the stamp books when they are turned in.

Staff members and employees are now functioning on a temporary basis, organization ruler stipulating that all association employees be selected by the board of directors.

Essone indicated qualified co-op members may hold any position.


Unemployed to Receive Compensation

Colonists involuntarily unemployed are eligible for unemployment compensation intended to cover minimum essentials for themselves and their dependents, Placement Officer Harold James announced today.

Applications for compensation must be made to the Division of Employment which shall certify the facts and forward them to Harry Stafford, project director, upon whose approval the compensation will be paid.

Those who are unemployed through their own refusal to work or who have been discharged for cause, will not be eligible for compensation, James explained.

Compensation will be on a monthly schedule, James continued, the rates varying as follows: men 18 and over, $4.76; women 16 and over $4.26; dependents 13-17 inclusive, $2.50; dependents under 13, $1.50.

The age of an applicant will be computed as of his or her nearest birthday at the beginning of the fiscal year, James said.


Seattle Girl Weds

Yuki Nishimura, 22, of Seattle and PFC M. Ibara, 24, of Ft. Bliss were married recently at El Paso.


New Relocation Editor

Ken Tashiro, former Seattleite, has been named as head of Gila paper.


Band Plays in FSA Camp

Even in their wildest dreams, the pre-evacuation K. Hayashi dance band never imagined that they would play "Sleepy Lagoon" for a group of onion pickers in Idaho. But that's what happened Saturday night.

Two weeks ago the band left for the onion fields. They took their instruments to get in a little practice in their spare time. The first week they had a lot of spare time so they practiced. Workers who boarded at the Twin Falls FSA camp came around and listened. It made them want to dance. It made them want to dance so much that last Saturday they held one. Hayashi says the boys wrote him it went over big.

The present band is comprised of Louie Sato, piano; Terry Kumagai, trumpet Renbo Yoshitomi and Han Suzuki, trombones; George Ogata and Kaoru Kitayama saxes; Yoichi Ito, guitar and Joe Owaki, drums.


[Page 3]

300 More Leave for Farm Work

Farm work will take more than 300 Hunt volunteers this week, according to Yukio Nakayama, off-project labor supervisor of the Placement Office. Labor groups will range in size from two to 12. Employment will be chiefly in Idaho.

The majority of this week's recruits will live in quarters provided by the employers. Only a part of the 140 to be dispatched tomorrow will go to the Farm Security Administration camp near Twin Falls.

With over 100 nisei slated for the F.S.A. encampment, details were being worked over to set up a central commissary for the workers. A cook will be sent to take charge of the kitchen, Nakayama reported.


Store Robbery Still Unsolved

New developments in last Thursday's canteen burglary are expected soon, Chief Clarence D. Lee and Capt. Sanetome Kanako of the Internal Security Police announced this week. Definite leads are being followed by special investigators.

Five dollars in cash and close to $50 worth of varied merchandise were stolen by thieves who broke into the store in Blk. 6. Entry was gained by climbing into the barrack attic through the adjoining unoccupied apartment.

Stolen goods were largely cigarettes and playing cards. A few pipes, overshare pencils and sunglasses were also taken. Yoshi Takayoshi, store manager, reported the thieves were unable to open an auxiliary cash register which contained close to $90.

A theft of $70 reported to police Sept. 9 was disposed of last week when Lee's officers recovered the amount and closed the case.


Chikusa Blitzes First Rattler

In this garden of Eden, Hunt's first bona-fide rattlesnake was slain August 13 by Sadanobu "Boya" Chikusa, member of the Puyallup advance crew. The serpent was sighted by a work crew a few miles out in the brush area near the canal. Chikusa gave chase and using a long-handled shovel rid the project of one serpent. Chikusa's rewards were the snake's nine rattles and the guarantee of going down in Hunt history.


400 Attend Hayashi Rites

More than 400 colonists gathered around a flag-draped coffin last Friday night to pay their final respects to a young nisei who died while serving in the U.S. Army at Camp Carson, Colo.

Baptist funeral services for Pvt. Eugene Hayashi, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Hayashi, were conducted by the Rev. Emery Andrews of the American Baptist Homes Mission Board, and the Rev. Shozo Hashimoto died Sept. 12 at Camp Carson from a kidney ailment.

At the conclusion of the services Sgt. W. Reiger, who escorted the body from Camp Carson, removed the flag from the coffin and presented it to the deceased's mother.

The parents and a friend, Shunji George Hashiwagi, were given special permission to leave Hunt to accompany the body to Salt Lake City for cremation.


Rehousing to Move Invalids in Next Move

Continuing the increasing tempo in the much needed rehousing program, hospital employees and diabetic cases will soon occupy the recently vacated Blks., 4 and 6, rehousing division announced late last week.

In the initial move in rehousing, residents of Blks. 4 and 6 were transformed to Blks. 7 and 8.

In the same announcement further extensive rehousing moves involving doubled families and dorm occupants were revealed.

Families living in recreation halls since Aug. 22 will be placed in Blks. 10 and 12. Partitions will be out up in Recreation halls throughout the camp to house temporarily bachelors quartered in dorms.

Small families occupying large rooms will be moved and large apartments will be split up to accommodate the 300 to 500 people to be moved daily, Lorne Huycke, housing superintendent, revealed.

Occupants of Blk. 23, whether a civic center is planned, will be reassigned. It is not definitely known, but they will probably occupy Blk. 44, Huycke said.

"No one is to move without the authority of the department. Such action will only serve to delay the whole rehousing program," Huycke warned.

"Sit tight and rehousing will come to you."


Co-op to Handle Telegram

Telegrams of Hunt residents, both incoming and outgoing, will be hereafter handled through the Community Enterprises department, according to the new set-up announced yesterday by John Essone, supervisor of Community Enterprises.

Persons wishing to send telegrams were asked by Essone to turn them into his office; in the administration building, where they will be relaxed to the telegraph office in Jerome Canteen pick-up service of telegrams will be installed later, Essone added.

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Hunt, less than two months old, has a population of 9,447.


[Page 4]

Ishihara Names Four to New Posts

Four of the seven co-ordinators' posts are now filled, Community Activities Supervisor George Ishihara revealed this week as he continued the selection of key men in carrying out his extensive recreational program.

Co-ordinators named were Takeo Nogaki, Section II; Roy Sakamoto, Section III; Kaun Onodera, Section IV; and Arthur Sasaki, Section VII.

The co-ordinators will arrange the activities in their respective sections in conjunction with the activities supervisors who were announced last week. They will also arrange all inter-section sports contests.


Light Gives Library Hours

New hours in the two libraries located in Recreation Halls 7 and 31 will be from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, Jerome T. Light, high school principal said yesterday.

Tables, books and a staff of workers were installed in Blk. 7's library Saturday.


Athletes to Get Equipment. WRA Buys New Sports Goods

New athletic equipment, purchased and stored by the WRA prior to the arrival of the residents, is being readied for distribution, Custodian Lincoln Beppu revealed this week.

The equipment will be issued to the seven Section Coordinators who in turn will check them out to the individuals.

Beppu explained that, in order to retain the leather balls for tournaments and intersectional games, Voit rubber balls, which are nearly the same as the leather so far as bounce, feel, and which will wear longer, will be issued.

Each of the seven sections will receive the following equipment: 4 fielders gloves, 1 first basemen's mitt, 1 catcher's mitt. 1 mask, 2 softballs, 4 bats, 1 medicine ball, an iron shot, 1 volleyball, volleyball net, 1 soccer ball, 1 basketball, 2 pairs of hoops, 6 table tennis paddles, and a dozen ping-pong balls.

Camp Harmony equipment having any value will be donated to the Elementary School.


Girls Teams Tie 1-1 in Short Game

Portland's Section Five softballers and Seattle's Section Three tens battled to a 1-1 tie in an abbreviated game Sunday morning at the field between Blks. 30 and 23 before a crowd of 400.

Called at the end of the fifth inning, the game was a pitcher's duel between Hiro Shiogi of Sec. 5 and Sec. 3's Yuri Uchida.

Both Shiogi and Uchida struck out 12 but the latter issued 7 walks to the former's one.

Section 5 tallied their lone score in the second when Seattleites Murakami, Okita, Aono, and Tashima all got walks. Section 3 came back in their half of the third cante to tie the score on Alice Mitsudo's homer.


YWCA Advisers Map Plans

The YWCA advisory committee, formed at Saturday's organizational meeting, will meet at 1:30 p.m. this Saturday at Dining hall 22 to further plans for a "Y" group.

Members of the committee include: Mrs. S. Yamada, Toshiko Senda, Mrs. Paul Suzuki, Jeanne Mori, Mrs. George Kambe, Mrs. Minoru Masuda, Stella Yorozu, Yoshi Fujihira, Frances Maeda, Mrs. Sugawara, Mrs. G. Kashiwagi, Mrs. Richard Nomura, Mrs. Roy Yokota, Ise Inuzake, Mrs. S. Kozu, Mrs. George Okada, Carol Daty, Florence Anzawa, Hiroko Sato, Yoneko Tajitsu, Lillian Fujioka, Sono Matsuo, Hiroko Kawasaki, Grace Kawata, Shizuko Ikeda, Haruo Okazaki, Sally Shimanaka, Rae Azumano, Mrs. R. Higashida, Mary Marumoto, and Kimi Tanida.


Classifications of Jobs Still Same -- Glenn

Workers will continue to be classified under "A", "B" and "C" ratings for the time being, although new regulations and orders concerning the workers pay situation are received regularly from Washington, D.C., Harlow Glenn, principal fiscal accountant, declared this week.

Glenn's announcement spiked rumors purporting that "A" ratings ($12) were to be abolished with only "B" ($16) and "C" ($19) ratings to be retained.


Handicrafts Classes Begin Work

Knitting and crocheting classes were begun this week under the supervision of Mrs. I. Morishita, arts and handicraft head.

Mrs. S. Nakamura, Mrs. Mary Higashida, and Mrs. M. Tamura were named by Mrs. Morishita to supervise the classes in the first three sections. Supervisors for the other four sections for the other four sections are to be named this week.

Evening classes will be held on Mondays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 9 p.m. while afternoon sessions will meet each weekday from 2 to 4 p.m.


Co-op Office Cashes Checks

Paychecks will hereafter be cashed by the cashier, S. Hasegawa, at the co-op office in Recreation hall 22 between 9 a.m. and 12 noon, the co-op office announced this week.