The Ministry of Postal Services Establishment Law
法令番号: 法律第244号
公布年月日: 昭和23年12月15日
法令の形式: 法律

審議経過

I hereby promulgate the Ministry of Postal Services Establishment Law.
Signed:HIROHITO, Seal of the Emperor
This fifteenth day of the twelfth month of the twenty-third year of Showa (December 15, 1948)
Prime Minister　YOSHIDA Shigeru
Law No.244
The Ministry of Postal Services Establishment Law
Index
Chapter I. General Provisions(Article 1-4)
Chapter II Subdivisions on Ministerial Level and Local Organizations(Article 5-16)
Section 1. Subdivisions(Article 5-14)
Section 2. Local Organizations(Article 15-16)
Chapter III. Subsidary Organizations(Article 17-22)
Chapter IV. Personnel and Position(Article 23-30)
Chapter V. Miscellaneous Previsions(Article 31-32)
Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I. General Provisions
(Purpose of this Law)
Article 1.　The purpose of this Law is to specify the powers and scope of the functions of the Ministry of Postal Services, and at the same time, to establish the standard for an organization fit for the rational and efficient operation of the enterprises enumerated in Article 3.
(Establishment)
Article 2.　The Ministry of Postal Services shall be established in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 2. Article 3 of the National Government Organization Law (Law No.120 of 1948).
2　The head of the Ministry of Postal Service shall be called the Minister of Postal Services.
(Responsibility of the Ministry of Postal Services)
Article 3.　The Ministry of Postal Services shall be the only Japanese Government agency responsible for integrated national public services as follows:
1.　Mail Service;
2.　Postal Savings, Postal Order and Postal Transfer Savings Service;
3.　Post Office Life Insurance and Post Office Annuities Service.
2　Besides those mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the Ministry shall take charge of Services incidental thereto, services entrusted by the Ministry of Tele-communications, service related to the sale of revenue stamps and businesses related to payment of annual and lump sum pensions, and receipt and payment of national treasury.
3　The Ministry shall perform services mentioned in the preceding two paragraph in a manner which will show the highest efficiency and will provide for the greatest public benefit.
(Powers of the Ministry of of Postal Services)
Article 4.　The Ministry of Postal Services shall, in order to perform the functions prescribed in this Law, have the power as listed belows:
1.　To conclude, in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations and within the limits of the budgets, contracts necessary for the performance of the businesses under its jurisdiction;
2.　To establish, maintain or abolish, in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations, facilities necessary for the performance of the businesses under its jurisdiction, such as service facilities and research facilities;
3.　To supply, in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations, articles and materials necessary for the performance of the businesses under its jurisdiction, such as articles and materials to be used in the services or researches, and stationeries;
4.　To dispose, in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations, of properties no longer required;
5.　In accordance with the provisions of the National Public Service Law (Law No.120 of 1947), to take necessary actions related to the official status of the personnel such as appointment or removal and reward or discipline;
6.　To determine, within the limits not conflicting with the National Public Service Law and other laws and regulations, service conditions, such as compensation and duty hours of the personnel;
7.　To establish, maintain or abolish facilities necessary for the welfare and sanitation of the personnel in conformity with the provisions of laws and regulations providing the welfare and sanitation for Japanese Government personnel;
8.　To train the personnel in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations;
9.　To establish, maintain or abolish, in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations, houses and living quarters for use of the personnel;
10.　To make administrative inspection of the businesses under its jurisdiction, and take necessary actions in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations;
11.　In accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations, to pay for damages and accept reparations concerning businesses under its jurisdiction;
12.　To determine the official seal of the Ministry of Postal Services;
13.　To publish and distr bute statistics and information of studies and investigations related to the businssses under its jurisdiction;
14.　To make publicity and information concerning the services under its jurisdiction;
15.　To conduct, in the limits not affecting the performance of the proper businesses, commercial advertisement service utilizing equipments and articles used in the Services or other articles necessary for utilizing the Mail Service, such as postage stamp books;
16.　To fiix service hours and contents of services to be handled at post offices;
17.　To make and sell articles necessary for utilizing the Mail Service, such as packing goods and envelops;
18.　Within the limits authorized by treaties and conventions or laws, to negotiate and conclude agreements related to foreign mail service, foreign postal order service and foreign postal transfer saving service, and to reduce or increase the fees thereof;
19.　In accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations, to operate reserve funds and surplus funds derived from Post Office Life Insurance Service and Post Office Annuities Service;
20.　To establish, maintain or abolish sanitation facilities for the insured of Post Office Life Insurance within the limits of an appropriation by the Diet for this specific purpose;
21.　In accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations, to collect revenues and make such payments as are necessary for the performance of the businesses under its jurisdiction and to specify method of reporting and accounting for such receipts and expenditures;
22.　Powers prescribed by treaties and conventions, laws or orders authorized by the special delegation of laws as to be involved in the powers of the Ministry, besides those regulations prescribed in the preceding items.
Chapter II. Subdivisions on Ministerial Level and Local Organizations
Section 1. Subdivisions
(Subdivisions)
Article 5.　The Ministry of Postal Service shall have the Minister's Secretariat and bureaus and in comformity with the provisions of Article 21 of the National Government Organization Law, divisions as enumerated below:
Postal Inspection Bureau
First Division
Second Division
Third Division
Postal Bureau
Management Division
Business Division
Transportation and Facilities Division
Postal Savings Bureau
Management Division
Business Division
Accounting Division
Post Office Life Insurance Bureau
Management Division
Business Division
Finance Division
Actuarial Division
Personnel Bureau
Accounts and Finance Bureau
Supply Bureau
Building and Repairs Bureau
2　Businesses to be taken in charge of the divisions prescribed in paragraph 1, shall be determined by Cabinet Order.
3　Each division mentioned it paragraph 1 may have such sections as stated in Article 3 of National Government Organization Law.
(Businesses of Minister's Secretariat)
Article 6.　The Minister's Secretariat shall take charge of the following businesses under the jurisdiction of the Ministry:
1.　Confidential matters;
2.　Determination and custody of official seals;
3.　Receipt, delivery, dispatch, compilation and preservation of official documents;
4.　Integration and adjustment of businesses under the charge of the bureaus;
5.　Review, integration and coordination of drafts for laws and orders and other legal matters;
6.　Establishment and abolition of subdivisions;
7.　Contract with the Diet;
8.　Liaison through the Central Liaison and Coordination Agency;
9.　Procedures for the official announcement and information;
10.　Matters incidental to above mentioned businesses;
11.　Miscellaneous matters of the Ministry which do not come under the jurisdiction of bureaus.
(Businesses of Postal Inspection Bureau)
Article 7.　The Postal Inspection Bureau shall take the charge of the following businesses:
1.　Investigation in and necessary actions for all crimes, offenses and troubles excepting trifling matters relating to the functions of the Ministry;
2.　To pay for damages and accept reparations, caused by crimes, offenses and troubles mentioned in the preceding item;
3.　Inspection and investigation of all the businesses under the jurisdiction of the Ministry;
4.　Accumulation and analysis of public opinions;investigation of and reply to applied complaints of the public related to the businesses of the Ministry;
5.　Coordination with the Administrative Management Agency concerning the inspection of administration of the Ministry under the jurisdiction of the Administrative Management Agency;
6.　Preparation of drafts for and enforcement of laws and regulations related to the businesses mentioned in 1, 3 and 4 above;
7.　Establishment and execution of operating procedures for the businesses under the charge of tee Bureau;
8.　Preparation of plans for the requirements and procurement of personnel to serve in the Bureau and ita local offices;
9.　Training of the personnel to serve in the Bureau and its local offices;
10.　Preparation of budgets for the businesses under the charge of the Bureau and the performance of approved projects;
11.　Publicity of the businesses under the charge of the Bureau;preparation of statistics relative to the businesses under the charge of the Bureau;
12.　Besides those listed above matters related to the inspection of the functions of the Ministry prescribed by laws and regulations as to be involved in the powers of the Ministry;
13.　Matters incidental to above mentioned businesses.
(Businesses of Postal Bureau)
Article 8.　The Postal Bureau shall take charge of the following businesses:
1.　Establishment and performance of plans for the management of the Mail Service;
2.　Preparation of drafts for and enforcement of conventions and agreements, and laws and regulations related to the Mail;
3.　Establishment and execution of service rules for the Mai Service;
4.　International conferences and the Universal Postal Union related to the Mail;
5.　Establishment and abolition of Post Offices;
6.　Determination of service hours and contents of services to be handled at post offices related to the Mail Service;
7.　Conclusion of contracts for the transportation of mail matters;
8.　Issue and sale of postage stamps and postal cards impressed with mail charges;sale of envelopes, seal papers and other articles necessary for utilizing the Mail Service, and revenue stamps;
9.　Preparation of plans for the requirements and procurement of personnel to serve in the Bureau and its local offices;
10.　Training of the personnel to serve in the Bureau and its local offices;
11.　Preparation of budgets for the Mail Service and the performance of approved projects;
12.　Publicity of the Mail Services and carrying out commercial advertising service utilizing equipments and articles used in the Services or other materials necessary for utilizing the Mail Service, such as postage stamp books;
13.　Performance of services entrusted to the Ministry in accordance with the provision of Article 6 of the Ministry of Telecommunications Establishment Law (Law No.245 of 1948);
14.　Besides those listed above, matters related to the Mail Service prescribed by laws and regulations as to be involved in the powers of the Ministry;
15.　Matters incidental to above mentioned businesses.
(Businesses of Postal Savings Bureau)
Article 9.　The Postal Savings Bureau shall take charge of the following businesses:
1.　Establishment and performance of plans for the management of Postal Savings, Postal Order and Postal Transfer Savings Services, and businesses related to payment of annual and lump sum pensions, and receipt and payment of national troasury (to be referred to as P. O. and Savings, hereinafter);
2.　Preparation of drafts for and enforcement of conventions and agreements and laws and regulations related to P. O. and Savings;
3.　Establishment and execution of service rules for P. O. and Savings;
4.　International conferences and the Universal Postal Union related to Postal Order and Postal transfer Savings;
5.　Establishment and abolition of Local Savings Branch Offices;
6.　Determination of service hours and contents of services to be handled at post offices related to P. O. and Savings;
7.　Collecting total sum of incomes and outgoes related to P. O. and Savings;
8.　Ledger of Postal Savings and Postal Transfer Savings;
9.　Issue and sale of postal savings coupons;
10.　Determination of practise standards for the treatment of cash of post offices;
11.　Encouragement of postal savings;
12.　To pay for damages, and accept reparations (excluding those under the charge of the Postal Inspection Bureau) and to take necessary actions for making up for deficit caused through the handling of P. O. and Savings;
13.　Preparation of plans for the requirements and procurement of the personnel to serve in the Bureau and its local offices;
14.　Training of the personnel to serve in the Bureau and its local Offices:
15.　Preparation of budgets for P. O. and Savings and the performance of approved projects;
16.　Publicity of P. O. and Savings and carrying out commercial advertising service utilizing equipments and articles used in the Services;
17.　Besides those listed above, matters related to P. O. and Savings prescribed by laws and regulations as to be involved in the powers of the Ministry;
18.　Matters incidential to above mentioned businesses.
(Businesses of Post Office Life Insurance Bureau)
Article 10.　The Post Office Life Insurance Bureau shall take charge of the following businesses:
1.　Establishment and performance of plans for the management of Post Office Life Insurance and Annuities to be referred to as Insurance and Annuities, hereinafter);
2.　Preparation of drafts for and enforcement of laws and regulations related to Insurance and Annuities;
3.　Preparation of drafts for and enforcement of laws and regulations, and procedures related to accounts and financial matters concerning the Post Office Life Insurance and Annuities Special Account (to be referred to as Insurance and Annuities Special Account, hereinafter);
4.　Establishment and execution of the service rules for Insurance and Annuities;
5.　Establishment and abolition of Local Post Office Life Insurance Branch Offices;
6.　Determination of service hours and contents of services to be handled at post offices related to Insurance and Annuities;
7.　Establishment of plans for the requirements and procurement of personnel to serve in the Bureau and its local offices;
8.　Training of the personnel to serve in the Bureau and its local offices;
9.　Preparation of budgets related to Insurance and Annuities and the performance of approved projects;
10.　Settlement of Insurance and Annuities Special Account;
11.　Determination, receipt and disbursal of incomes and expenses of Insurance and Annuities Special Account;
12.　Classification of incomes and expenses, assets and liabilities of Insurance and Annuities Special Account per service;
13.　Study of system for Insurance and Annuities Special Account;
14.　Lodger Accounting of Insurance and Annuities Special Account;
15.　Collecting total sum of incomes and outgoes related to Insurance and Annuities;
16.　Ledger of Insurance and Annuities;
17.　Encouragement of Insurance and Annuities;
18.　Operation of the reserve funds and funds to be reserved for Insurance and Annuities;
19.　Matters related to actuarial businesses;such as basic calculation of the insurance and annuities rates, computation of the legal reserves;
20.　Establishment, maintenance and abolition of health facilities for the insured;
21.　To pay for damages, and accept reparations (excluding those under the charge of the Postal Inspection Bureau) and to take necessaay actions for making up for deficit caused through the handling of Insurance and Annuities;
22.　Publicity of Insurance and Annuities and carrying out commercial advertising service utilizing equipments and articles used in the Services;
23.　The Post Office Life Insurance and Annuities Enterprise Deliberation Committee and the Post Office Life Insurance and Annuities Investigation Committee;
24.　Besides those listed above, matters related to Insurance and Annuities prescribed by laws and regulations as to be involved in the powers of the Ministry;
25.　Matters incidental to abovementioned businesses.
(Businesses of Personnel Bureau)
Article 11.　The Personnel Bureau shall take charge of the following businesses:
1.　Performance of businesses related to the personnel of the Ministry as listed below:
1.　Position classification, appointment and dismissal;
2.　Service conditions such as compensation and duty hours;
3.　Regulations on duty, status and disciplinary punishment;
4.　Consideration of work performance and personal service records;
5.　Preparation and preservation of personnel records;
6.　Compensation for injury and diseases incurred in line of duty;and official pension;
7.　Negotiation with the trade union, organization or group of the personnel and other matters related thereto;
8.　To take necessary actions for the complaints of the personnel.
2.　Summarization of plans for the requirements and procurement of the personnel to serve in the Ministry;
3.　Authorized number of personnel;
4.　Welfare and sanitation for the personnel and establishment, maintenance and abolition of facilities necessary thereto;
5.　Establishment, maintenance arid abolition of houses and living quarters for use of the personnel;
6.　Summarization of plans concerning the training of the personnel:
7.　Preparation of drafts for and enforcement of laws and regulations pertaining to the Ministry of Postal Services Mutal Aids Association;
8.　Establishment of plans for the requirements and Procurement of the personnel to serve in the Bureau and its local offices;
9.　Training of the personnel to serve in the Bureau and its local offices;
10.　Preparation of budgets related to the businesses in charge of the Bureau and the performance of approved projects;
11.　Besides those listed above, matters related to personnel affairs prescribed by laws and regulations as to be involved in the powers of the Ministry, and not specified to be under the charge of other bureaus;
12.　Matters incidental to abovementioned businesses.
(Businesses of Accounts and Finance Bureau)
Article 12.　The Accounts and Finance Bureau shall take charge of the following businesses:
1.　Summarization of budgets prepared by respective bureaus;
2.　Establishment and enforcement of projects of Budgets in accordance with the projects prepared by respective bureaus;
3.　Preparation of drafts for and enforcement of laws and regulations, and procedures related to accounting and financing concerning the Postal Services Special Account;
4.　Settlement of all matters concerning the Postal Services Special Account;
5.　Determination, receipt and disbursal of incomes and expenses of the Postal Services Special Account;
6.　Classification of incomes and expenses, assets and liabilities of the Postal Services Special Account;
7.　Study of system for the Postal Services Special Account;
8.　Ledger accounting of the Postal Services Special Account;
9.　Control, arrangement, and procurement of funds;
10.　Preparation of procedures for contracts;
11.　Summarization of plans for contracts and other matters prepared by respective bureaus;
12.　Establishment of allotment program for disbursement and the notification thereof to respective bureaus;
13.　Audit of all personnel charged with the conclusion of contracts, determination of incomes and expenses, the administration and custody of properties such as funds and articles, and the verification of entries in general ledgers and subsidiary books of the Ministry;
14.　Approval of cheques and treasury money order;
15.　Preparation_of statistics for accounts and finance and establishment of basic plan related to the statistics of the businesses under the jurisdiction of the Ministry;
16.　Preservation of statistics related to the businesses under the jurisdiction of the Ministry;
17.　Cost accounting of Mail, Postal Order and Postal Transfer Savings;study for rationalization of charges thereof;
18.　Preservation of records of fixed assets;
19.　Establishment of basic procedures for commercial advertising services;
20.　Establishment of plans for the requirements and procurement of the personnel to serve in the Bureau and its local offices;
21.　Training of the personnel to serve in the Bureau and its local offices;
22.　Preparation of budgets related to the businesses under the charge of the Bureau and the performance of approved projects;
23.　Besides those listed above, matters related to finance, accounts and statistics prescribed by laws and regulations as to be involved in the powers of the Ministry, and not specified to be under the charge of other bureaus;
24.　Matters incidental to abovementioned businesses.
(Businesses of Supply Bureau)
Article 13.　The supply Bureau shall take charge of the following businesses:
1.　Summarization of demand and supply projects and businesses relating to the allocation of materials and articles required by respective bureaus;
2.　Establishment and execution of operating procedures for the businesses under the charge of the Bureau;
3.　Purchase, borrowing, repairs, remodelling, warehousing, custody and delivery of materials and articles;
4.　Establishment, maintenance and abolition of warehouses and repair shops;
5.　Disposal of materials and articles no longer required;
6.　Establishment of plans for the requirements and procurement of the personnel to serve in the bureau and its local offices;
7.　Training of the personnel to serve in the Bureau and its local offices;
8.　Preparation of budgets related to the businesses in charge of the Bureau and the performance of approved projects;
9.　Besides those listed above, matters related to materials and articles prescribed by laws and regulations as to be involved in the powers of the Ministry, and not specified to be under the charge of other bureaus;
10.　Matters incidental to above mentioned businesses.
(Businesses of Building and Repairs Bureau)
Article 14.　The Building and Repairs Bureau shall take charge of the following businesses:
1.　By request of respective bureaus, design and execution of construction and repairing works of lands, buildins, structures, water-borne crafts and subsidiary equipments (to be referred to as the real estate, hereinafter);
2.　By request of respective bureaus, acquistion and disposal of the real estate;
3.　Matters concerning maintenance of national properties and the real estate borrowed;
4.　Conclusion of contracts relating to the real estate;
5.　Establishment of plans for the requirements and procurement of the personnel to serve in the Bureau and its local offices;
6.　Training of the personnel to serve in the Bureau and its local offices;
7.　Preparation of budgets related to the businesses under the charge of the Bureau and the performance of approved projects;
8.　Besides those listed above, matters related to building and repairs prescribed by laws and regulations as to be involved in the powers of the Ministry, and not specified to be under the charge of other bureaus;
9.　Matters incidental to abovementioned businesses.
Section 2. Local Organizations
(Local Organizations)
Article 15.　The Ministry of Postal Services shall, in accordance with provision of Article 21 of National Government Organization Law, have following local organizations:
Local Postal Inspection Bureau;
Local Postal Services Bureau;
Local Savings Branch Office;
Local Post Office Life Insurance Branch Offices;
Post Office.
2　Local Postal Inspection Bureau shall take charge of a part of the businesses of the Postal Inspection Bureau prescribed in Article 7;Local Postal Services Bureau shall take charge of a part of the businesses of bureaus prescribed in Article 8 to 10 inclusive;Local Savings Branch Office shall take charge of a part of the businesses prescribed in Article 9;Local Post Office Life Insurance Branch Office shall take charge of a part of the businesses prescribed in Article 10.
3　Post Office shall take charge of the field operation of businesses of the Local Postal Services Bureau.
4　Besides those listed in the preceding two paragraphs, the local organizations mentioned in Paragraph 1 shall take charge of a part of businesses mentioned in Article 6, Article 11 to 14 inclusive so far as they are concerned thereto.
Article 16.　Local Postal Inspection Bureau and Local Postal Services Bureau shall be established in Tokyo Metropolis, Nagano City, Nagoya City, Kanazawa City, Osaka City, Hiroshima City, Matsuyama City, Kumamoto City, Sendai City and Sapporo City.
2　Local Postal Inspection Bureau shall have divisions as listed below:
First Division;
Second Division;
Third Division.
3　Local Postal Services Bureau shall have divisions as listed below.
Postal Services Division;
Postal Savings Division;
Life Insurance Division;
Personnel Division;
Accounts and Finance Division;
Supply Division;
Building and Repairs Division.
4　Title, jurisdiction and scope of the functions of Local Postal Inspection Bureau and Local Postal Services Bureau shall be specified by Cabinet Order, and details of subdivisions shall be determined by the Minister of Postal Services.
5　The Minister of Postal Services may, if necessary, establish branch offices to take charge of a part of businesses of local organizations.
6　Title, location, jurisdiction, scope of the functions and organization of subdivisions of branch offices mentioned in the preceding paragraph, and of the local organizations other than Local Postal Inspection Bureau and Local Postal Services Bureau shall be determined by the Minister of Postal Services.
Chapter III. Subsidiary Organizations
(Subsidiary Organizations)
Article 17.　Besides those mentioned in Article 22, subsidiary organizations to be established in the Ministry are as follows:
Museum;
Hospitals, Clinics and Sanitariums;
Personnel Training Schools.
(Museum)
Article 18.　The Museum shall be an organization for enlightening and popularization of culture relating to the Postal Services.
(Hospitals, etc.)
Article 19.　The Hospitals, Clinics and Sanitariums shall be the organization preserving the healtn of the personnel of the Ministry and the family thereof.
(Personnel Training Schools)
Article 20.　The personnel Training Schools shall be the organization for training the personnal of the Ministry.
(Title, etc.)
Article 21.　Titles, locations and organizations of subdivisions of the subsidiary organizations mentioned in Article 17 shall be prescribed by Ministry of Postal Services Ordinance.
(Other Subsidiary Organizations)
Article 22.　Organizations listed in the left column of the table below shall be established as the subsidiary organizations of the Ministry of Postal Services, the purpose of establishment thereof being each given in the right column.
Kind
Purpose
Postale Services Advisory Council for the Minister of Postal Services
To deliberate and investigate into matters related to the service mentioned in Article 3 for promoting the sound and efficient management thereof (those matters to be deliberated in the Post Office Life Insurance and Annuities Enterprise Deliberation Committee shall be excluded)
Post Office Life Insurance and Annuities Enterprise Deliberation Committee
To deliberate and investigate into matters related to the management of Insurance and Annuities such as the drafts for insurance Policy Conditions and Annuities Policy Conditions, and matters related to the operation of reserve funds for Post Office Life Insurance and Annuities
Post Office Life Insurance and Annuities Investigation Committee
As a mediation agency, to make investigation and impartial decision for the dispute risen between the Ministry and the insurance policy holder, beneficiary, annuity policy holder, annuitant, successive annuitant or receiver or refund money, concerning rights and duties related to the contracts for Post Office Life Insurance or Annuities
Ministry of Postal Services Mutual Aids Association Investigation Committee
As a mediation agency, to make investigation and impartial decision for the dispute risen between the Ministry of Postal Services Mutual Aids Association and its member concerning the determination of payment and the collection of premium made by the Association
Advisory Council for the Management of Ministry of Postal Services Mutual Aids Association
To make consideration and investigation concerning the matters related to the management of the Ministry of Postal Services Mutual Aids Association
2　Matters related to the organization, businesses, member of council or committee and other personnel of the subsidiary organizations listed in paragraph 1, shall be provided for by Cabinet Order except otherwise specified by other laws (inculding orders authorized by law).
Chapter IV. Personnel and Position
(Personnel)
Articie 23.　With respect to personnel to be placed in the Ministry, the provisions of the National Public Service Law shall be followed.
(Directors)
Article 24.　The Ministry of Postal Services shall have four Directors.
2　Directors shall be placed as the chief of Postal Inspection Bureau, Postal Services Bureau, Postal Savings Bureau and Post Offiee Life Insurance Bureau.
(Chiefs of Subdivisions)
Article 25.　The Minister's Secretariat, Divisions mentioned in Article 5 shall have the Chief Secretary, Chief of Division respectively.
2　Local organizations mentioned in Article 15 and their subdivisions shall have one chief respectively.
3　Subsidiary organizations mentioned in Article 17 shall have one chief respectively.
4　The chiefs mentioned in preceding three paragraphs shall, by order of their superiours, respectively preside over the businesses of their offices, and direct and supervise the personnel thereof.
5　The Accounts and Finance Bureau and Personnel Bureau shall have a deputy chief respectively.
6　The deputy chiefs shall assist the chiefs in managing the businesses and act for the chiefs in their absence.
(Postal Inspectors)
Article 26.　The Ministry of Postal Services shall have less than seven hundred postal Inspectors to make inspection on the postal Activities.
2　Postal inspectors are the special representatives of the Minister of Postal Services. They are charged with the investigation into all matters concerning the operation of the Postal Activities, and keeping the Minister advised as to the condition and needs of the service. Alleged violations of law shall be investigated and reported upon by them, and shall when necessary aid in the prosecution of all criminal offenses.
3　Postal inspectors shall be appointed by the Minister of Postal Services from among the personnel of the Ministry. They shall be located at the place designated by the Minister.
Article 27.　The postal inspector shall perform the functions same as that of the judicial police officer prescribed in the Code of Criminal Procedure of Japan (Law No.131 of 1948) concerning the crimes and offenses related to the Postal Activities.
2　In case the arrest of suspects is needed, the postal inspector shall require the national or municipal police officials who are performing the functions of the judicial police official to do it.
3　The national or municipal police officials who are performing the functions of judicial police official shall produce the suspects arrested in accordance with Paragraph 2 to the postal inspector.
4　The postal inspector may, where he receives the suspects of paragraph 3 or arrests flagrant offenders by himself and their detention is dcemed necessary, keep them in nearby police station.
Article 28.　In performing his duties, the postal inspector shall keep with him an identification certificate and, on request, shall show it to the parties concerned.
(Authorized Number of Personnel)
Article 29.　Authorized number of personnel to serve in the Ministry shall be Stipulated by other law.
(Travel on Official Business by Personnel)
Article 30.　As for the travel on official business by personnel, excluding the case necessary for inspection or audit, the travel shall specially get prior approval of the Minister of Postal Services.
Chapter V. Miscellaneous Provisions
(Delegation of Power)
Article 31.　The Minister of Postal Services may, by previding the Instruction for the Performance of Duties, delegate powers prescribed in this Law ooncerning matters of detail to Bureaus, Divisions, local organizations and subsidiary organizations.
(Details of Organization)
Article 32.　Details of the organization of the Ministry shall, excepting those provided in this Law, be prescribed by Cabinet Order, or by the Minister of Postal Services authorized by Cabinet Order.
Supplementary Provision:
This Law shall come into force as from April 1, 1949.
Minister of Communications　FURUHATA Tokuya
Prime Minister　YOSHIDA Shigeru