January 10, 1989

LEAD: Despite strong opposition in Japan, the Japanese Government has told American trade officials that its restraints on automobile exports to the United States will be maintained for another year.

LEAD: Despite strides toward improvement in the last two years, the agency charged with protecting New York City's children from abuse and neglect continues to be overwhelmed by its task, according to present and former officials, caseworkers and other experts.

LEAD: The Federal judge in the Iran-contra inquiry today declined to dismiss two of the main criminal charges against Oliver L. North until the Attorney General certifies that classified evidence in the case cannot be disclosed without damaging the nation's security.

LEAD: No sooner did Emperor Hirohito fall gravely ill than Japan starting projecting the economic cost of an imperial mourning and succession period. Economists calculated that the country's ever expanding gross national product would be noticeably hurt by days of lost work, as the world's second-largest economy officially closed down.

LEAD: A job-referral program set up in City Hall for affirmative action was used instead to dispense patronage on behalf of top political leaders throughout New York City, current and former Koch administration officials told an investigating state panel yesterday.