TRADE WITH JAPAN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2838, 1 August 1916, Page 6

TRADE WITH JAPAN

EMISSARIES IN WELLINGTON

TO INQUIRE INTO & RECTIFY GRIEVANCES MARITIME RELATIONS Thero arrived from Sydney by tho Manuka yesterday two Japanese visitors, whoso business is immediately concerned with the fostering of trade relations between Japan and New Zealand. Tho first of these is Sir. S. Ukita, of the Japanese Consular service. Prior to his present mission, Mr. Ukita was Consul tor Japan at Batavia, and on returning to his own country last January he was instructed to visit Australia and New Zealand in the interest of trade development. , — ■ 4 "I have come here," he told a. Dominion reporter yesterday, "to inquire closely into the prospects of trade with Japan,' and to look into those grievances which, lam told, exist. I know they existparticularly the old one of goods forwarded not being up to sample. That is not what should be, and must be rectified." The reporter concurred in tho assumption that such grievances had existed in tho past. "Oh, yes, I know—it is so. I heard of it in Australia, but it mu6t not be. Thero must be no grievances.' Wo.must find out exactly what your markets require, and give it to you. That is what I want to find out—what' New Zealand wants. We can supply, and can give you good quality, too. The relations between New Zealand and Japan in the past have been Tery good and ; friendly, and since tho war broke out trade, nas increased considerably. I have no figures, to give a comparison between our trade with you before and.after the war, but it must be largely increased. Will Look into Grievances. ' "Whito I-am in New Zealand I am going to see your leading importers and merchants, and visit the chambers of commerce, and, if inviteil to do so, am prepared to speak before tho chambers."' Air. Ukita informed our representative that he had received a letter quite recently from Bear-Admiral Matsumura (of the Iwate) informing him of the wonderful hospitality of the New Zealanders, and particularly referring to the warm welcome tho warships received in Wellington. No Direct Line Yet. Mr. Ukita was questioned about the recent cablegram which stated that the Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line had decided to establish direct communication with New Zealand. He was surprised to hear it, and said it was news to him. In .Sydney he had met Mr. Kamiya, president of the Osaka Shosen Kaish'a Line, who is coming over to Auckland by the Niagara to inquire into the possibilities of establishing a monthly cargo service between Osaka and New Zealand, but nothing definite in that direction would be decided until Mr. Kamiya reported to his directors. Some light was cast on tho question J. H. Broderick, representative of Sazuki and Co., of Sydney (the Japanese firm in Australia), who is travelling with 'the party. He stated that the cable message probably referred to tho Okita Maru, which had been chartered by tho Nippon Tusen Kaisha Line, to make a trip to New Zealand and Australia with cargo, and thence load load concentrates at Port Pirie (South Australia), back to Japan. As for as he knew, the company had made no arrangements for continuing their mail line on to New Zealand, nor was it at all likely that they would. Mr. Ukita's travelling companion is Mr. S. Tsuji, a merchant of Kobe, who seeks to establish business relations with New Zealand. Mr. Tsuji i 6 not only a manufacturer in a big way himself, but ho is acting as the agent of, other manufacturers pf his city. He is not officially connected in any way with Mr. Ukita. Return Trade. In the course of general conversation, Mr. Ukita stated that the 'woollen mills in Japan N had practically been commandeered by the Government to make khaki for tho Russian Array, and that khaki was being made out of Australian and New Zealand wool. . For that reason their output of woollens was at present very limited. They manufactured blankets, but those now being turned out were hardly good enough in quality for New Zealand, where the all-wool blanket was required. As to tho prospect of return trade in frozen meat, Mr. Ukita said that the Japanese did not care for mutton as a rulo. Sheep had been imported for. tho establishment of flocks, but the purpose' was for wool-growing rather,than for meat. Thero might be a market later on for frozen beef, which was appreciated in Japan. Ho was also going to look into the possibilities of New Zealand flax as a fibre for Japanese manufactures. He knew of it as a very strong fibre, and thought that it might be put to many uses in his country. , •Mr. Broderick.said that his company, had tried the Japanese trade with Australian frozen mutton' years ago, but they did not receive the smallest encouragement to continue sending shipments. He considers that the trade between Japan and Australia has developed botween fifty and 75 per cent, since tho war broke out. • The party leave for Christchurch and Dunedin this evening, returning to Wellington on August 7, and leaving soon after for Auckland.