WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1931, Page 2

WELLINGTON NEWS

TRADE WITH THE EAST. (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Feb. . 6. Thfe liold-up of the Japanese steamei Brisbane Marti. . by.. the ... Wellington waterside workers directs attention to trade with Asiatic, countries. ./The Brisbane Maru : is being held tip. because she is being ~considered a,s. competing unfairly in the intercolonial trade because she has brought about -17 tons of . cargo from Melbourne. First it may be asked when were. the. Union officials' constituted.' authorities to judge 'what is and what is'-not unfair competition The watersidefs are there to sell their 'labour .to‘the, ship-j owner not to pass judgment- -on- ■ the .methods and policy ol the shipowners. Jt is within the 'l'ights 'of the water-, skiers'to sell their labour but if there: was no such thing /-as preference- to unionists others ! would be glad - to earn 1 the money that the watersiders have refused. ’ But this by the way. For a long time past our business men have been agitating for the opening up of trade with the East, , but communication with the East has been an effectual bar to any trade development.' Now a Japanese shipping concern has shown suf- ! ficient enterprise to establish steamer , communication between " New Zealand I and certain Eastern ports;, and at the outset of the enterprise it is baulked b.v the ill-advised actions of the watersiders. It would not be surprising if Buoh tactics continue that the company will abandon the enterprise, We prevent foreign vessels carrying const, al cargo, but there is no law preventing cargo being brought from Australia, to New Zealand. The enterprise of the Japanese is much to be commended and New Zealand merchants can learn a groat deal from the Japs, who are i very thorough in their methods and | appreciate the value of foreign-trade. An authority on Japanese commercial schemes says that as long as

40 years ago Japan recognised the ; importance of international trade, and had taken steps to educate <her-pepole -in matters relating thereto. .With this laudable 'end in view a. Commercial Museum was established at .Osaka, ,the ■ - commercial and.;industrial metropolis-of ' Japan. This .‘.trade - institute is now a thriving concern and the people/ of /Japah inay obtain almost.ininickliateiy, last - 'minute information regarding overseas markets ancfTbieigirbusiness'. The Museum carries- put investigations, and researches, and has' officials stationed abroad obtaining data; for trade in distant lands. /‘These also Japanese/.firms tp those ..outside the countryv or, vice versh. They -make propaganda regard-, ing Japan’s commodities, . investigate : economic conditions thoroughly, .and even give every assistance, to Japanese I tourists visiting strange ;countries, ■ besides; actingas special correspondents' aiid supplying latest information to lpciil 'manufacturers and. Jripauese' business men. -..There is also in connection ‘ ■ ' with this institution a library of econo/ | : miedata for public perusal and foreign publication on commerce and .industry, such ns newspapers, magazines, year l-ooks, reports, etc.,.jare collected and easy of access. The Museum .algo collects, specimens and samples, to say nothing of raw materials and comodlt- |, ies, and full and conpise details -togeth- . j er with explanatory matter are readily j supplied to any inquirer. - • i j The Osaka Museum publishes a tri- * monthly “Trusho Iho” , (commercial ! bulletin) in Japanese, and issued an English journal known as “The Uonmercial Osaka,” copies bf which are distributed to lending organisations, corporations and firmte throughout the world, who are, or may become prospective traders; The local trading interest algo receives each year and additional work “Boeki Iho” (trade bulletin). . Free lectures on various subjects are I | gijtair by this museum for the purpose Kof making overseas affairs and all materials of research of this sort readily understood by those engaged in trade. Highly trained staff members are des-

patched anywhere to give these educational and instructive talks to gatherings of traders or to students of business schools and-colleges. Japanese businessmen can also obtain assistance with regard to foreign communications and .tin; : museum will .'undertake the translation ot cables. The correspondence. b'ra-ndi promptly replies to inquiries _;<mbusiness matters whether m Englisli, Gernian,,. French, Spanish, or Russian. A museum on similar lines could bejestablished in ,New Zealand if bur business men would let'go the apron strings pi the Government find lend for themselves. But the courage and enterprise is wanting and there is a lamentable lack of co-opera-tion. -