July 8, 1974

NEWS INDEX

article discusses pros and cons of NYC deposit bottle plan; intense lobbying effort by coalition of steel, aluminum, can and bottle industries, which see their econ gains threatened, continues despite efforts by many legislators to pass such bills; although majority of NYC Councilmen are in favor of bill, it is not likely to pass (S)

Clifton Shipp, wife Madeline and unidentified man killed in ransacked Bklyn apt on July 7; victims were stabbed and strangled and woman was possibly raped; neighbor repts seeing 2 men lugging heavy suitcases away; area residents comment; map (M)

early unofficial returns from Japanese elections show that governing Liberal-Dem party is taking comfortable lead in bid to hold majority in House of Councilors; party has won 53 of 98 contests already decided and is polling 48% of votes, compared with only 44.4% in '71; current election is expected to indicate strength of opposition after 25 yrs of govt by Liberal-Dems; party must win 63 of 130 seats contested to retain long-time majority in house; record turnout of 73% of voters seems to indicate voters' interest in inflation and charges by opposition parties that governing conservative Liberal-Dems nave relied too much on big business support; Yomiuri Shimbun survey shows that 55% of Japanese think opposition parties would do no better than Premier Tanaka's Cabinet at controlling prices; Communist party appears to be making smaller gains than predicted, winning only 4 seats and polling 10.5% of votes; election's outcome is critical for Tanaka, who has staked declining prestige on election by campaigning harder than any previous Japanese Premier; recent polls have shown that only 20% of people are satisfied with Tanaka's performance in office; Liberal-Dem party, alarmed at prospect of losing control in upper house, has asked Japan's major corps to support openly and to finance party candidates; Asahi Shimbun repts that party raised about $90-million for 95 candidates, exceeding limit of $65,000 for each candidate; party leaders stress that party must win at least 70 seats in order to uphold Tanaka's prestige; illus of Tanaka voting (L)

Sup Ct to meet on July 8 on withholding of Watergate tapes by Pres Nixon