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WORLD : Uno Scolds Two Cabinet Ministers

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<i> From Times wire service</i> s

Prime Minister Sosuke Uno, who has had his own campaign problems with women, today scolded two Cabinet ministers for harming public trust in politics after one called women “useless” in politics and the other kindled fears of higher taxes.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Masajuro Shiokawa told reporters that Uno admonished Hisao Horinouchi, minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and Shigenobu Sakano, the home affairs minister.

In a campaign speech Friday for fellow Liberal Democratic Party members running in upper house elections July 23, Horinouchi said women are “useless in the world of politics.” Horinouchi retracted the remark and apologized in a nationally televised news conference the next day, but on Monday the Communist Party demanded his dismissal.

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Sakano was quoted in news reports as saying Sunday that the new 3% sales tax, which took effect April 1, required handling a lot of small change, and “there will be fewer coins if the percentage is an even number of 4.”

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