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Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1919, Page 2

Japanese views of Japanese competition are of special interest. Speakifig at Manchester, lately Baron Goto, head of the Japanese Delegation in Britain, saij a question to which he had heard reference in (this epuptry and which was a}§o frequently discussed ip Jagap, was ihfif pf the future competition of Britain and Japanese goods in, the markets of the world, consider," continued Bafon Goto, “that l am justified jn saying that the dangers to both

of our countries arising from this competition are in no way serious and have been very much exaggerated. The markets of the world are so large and the kind and qualities of goods that our respective countries produce are so varied that i,t should be possible to avgjdf pgiffts’of friction. 'One of the matters yyhicl; if 'offy# referred to is that of tbs cheapness' gf labour jn Japan. In this connection I WPlfkl ask

you to remember that, although in the past wages may have seemed very £b?y are now getting compara£jye/y fearer. Kipp,, TyJjjol l forms the main jfcpiji >gf expenditure of every Jppaneso working jnan has advanced from 15' yen per k©k??, ffbieli wa,s the price before the war, to 56 ypft per kolcn to.-day. An increase as colossal as

his must soon i|[iv@ it s effect on wages and, of course, on cost of production Moreover, on account of the differences existing between Japanese and Europ,eatU .woripr.s 'there are eases in which more ■labour'4s in Japan than ip (the United Kingdom, and jfl jWfjing

tVffHgJi mills in this country, I tiavp observed that j?he number of bands (employed is less tliaji would bft the case in Japan. Altpgetbfcr it ma y be said fhat conditions in my counry are so different tropi those in your country that it js djtiiciijb fpr anyone who has studied the situation on

the Spot to form a considered opinion nji/jl it is for this reason and I advocate in particular an exchange of visits. Just as I hayp pQfng fore to-day, I hope that Manchester men, experts in their line, will pay visits to Japan to .examine conditions in Osaka and the other prim

cipal producing centres and if they find the time to make the long journey to my country, I can assure you that I will do my •best to welcome them and ■ to bring them in touch with the leading industrial men in Japan and help 1 them to get the information they want.”