RAPID TOUR.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1926, Page 4

RAPID TOUR.

JAPANESE DELEGATES. VISIT AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY Aug. -JO. To study Australian conditions, especially its labour problems, a party of six members of the Japanese House of Representatives accompanied by a secretary. arrived at Sydney last weekend by steamer from the north. All that they will he able to learn from the Commonwealth must he superficial, for after spending two or three days in ibis city they left for Melbourne, and will return from there in time to embark on the steamer for Japan on Saturday next. The delegation explained that every year the Japanese Diet sets aside a sum of money for a party of its members to visit foreign countries. This year the party was to attend an international conference at Paris, but at the last moment this conference was postponed, and Australia was substituted at the last moment. Although most of the members of the do leg ation understand English, they are not sufficiently confident of their knowledge to speak it, and interviews had to he made with the spokesman (Mr Hideo Higuchi) through an interpreter, who, by the way, was a B.A. of Sydney University. Mr Higuebi said that the party had come only to see the country which business and proximity made interesting, to Japan.' lie had no commission, but lie hoped that what lie and his companions learned in their regrettably short stay, and that Australia learned of them, would promote new friendships between the two nations. He hoped, too, that the party woifid learn something of our Government and of our industrial life, which might help them to solve their own problems. Like the rest of the world, Japan had many of these, and lie thought that in Australia he might find parallels to many of the problems of Ids own country, which was also a land of rapid transition and development. BOLSHEVIKS IN JAPAN. Mr Higuchi admitted that Bolsheviks wore active in Japan, but the Government’s campaign against them circumvented their influence, and deprived of a Press they were not terrifying powerful. .Vt the moment there was no Labour Party in Parliament, but after the next election—in 192 S—when the franchise would be extended, the Party which was formed recently to represent the workers would probably have a few members in the House. The new franchise might straighten out many difficulties, hut the whole position was complicated, and not easily to he commented upon. At the moment, the franchise was allotted on the basis of income-tax. CEREMONIAL. A large party of Japanese residents of Sydney, including the Consul-Gen-eral (Mr Tokugawn) met the visitors on the steamer, and in the lounge revived a ceremony of old Japan, which seemto Western eyes strangely, but charmingly formal, like the gestures of our own eighteenth century. Each member of the welcoming party would approach one of the visitors and bow lightly. Then from his breast pocket ho would produce with a flourish a visiting card. This, with a second, and more profound. Low, he would present. Bowing, too, the visitor would roebive it. and present bis own. and having road, each would conclude the introduction with smiles and a sweeping graceful acknowledgement. This is one of the customs which Japan has not replaced with the .manners of the West, whose method of introduction, she says, is far too casual and indefinte. Among the entertainments given*to the visitors while in Sydney was a dinner given bv the Consul-General. At this Mr Higuchi said: “We wish to learn something of your administration and legislation particularly of vour Labour administration. We had hoped to spend at least two weeks in Australia, hut this wo cannot do. With the eye that is wider than a hundred ears, however, we trust we shall see a little of this industrious and prosperous country. Help us to look into the heart of your country and understand the great people that you arc.”