JAPAN

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1932, Page 6

JAPAN

IMPRESSIONS OF MR STRACHAN

POLITICS PARTIES AND GROUPS

CHRISTCHURCH June 13

An address by Mr J. E. Straclian, the leader of the late delegation to the Conference on Pacific Relations held in- China, was given at the Workers’ Educational Association in Rangiora on the impression made on him by his visit to Japan. ■ Mr Straclian said we should be greatly interested in Japan, which three weeks’ sail from New Zealand, and which now jilayed a great part, .and was destined to play a still larger part, in Pacific Ocean affairs.

Climatically, topographically, and geologically Japan bore a great resemblance to New Zealand with a broken coast line and many volcanoes, though in area it was some 50 per cem, larger. > Japan played a part in the Continent of Asia somewhat similar to that which England did to Europe, and held a somewhat similar economic po-sition. Like New Zealand it was a country of great natural beauty, though this was enhanced by art in the way of numerous temple shrines. The population being some 65,000,000, there was naturally no land going to waste as in New Zealand, but every .square mile was . highly cultivated. The natural scenic beauty* of the country was. much added to by the deciduous trees and flowering shrubs of many bright colours, which followed one another so regularly that one was able to form a floral calender. One marked difference was the teeming population, which had practically reached saturation point, while in New Zealand there was room, for a. great increase in the numbers of the right people-—those willing to live on the land and develop it. He noticed the natural kindliness, courtesy, helpfulness, and thoughtfulness of the people to strangers as well as the thorough “follow up” system of the authorities. Another marked feature was the simplicity of the household arrangements with sliding panels instead of swinging doors, so that several rooms could be quickly turned into large ones, and the lack of elaborate furniture.

THE NEW TOKYO. Tokyo whicft in 1923 had lost 40 per eent. of the buildings by the disastrous earthquake seven times as destructive as that at San Francicsco, had been re-built much better than 'previously by' the National Government and the municipal authorities to an elaborate town planning scheme. The main street varied from 72 to 144 feet, with one leading avenue of 240 ft in width, and branch streets from 38 to 72 feet in parks, and canals were built, laid out, or repaired, the whole rebuilding scheme being carried out at a cost to the general Government alone of £90,000,000. The. city now had a population of over 2,000,000 and had become the sixth city in the world, being exceeded in the East only by Shanghai. The electric tramways exceeded 200 miles in length with subways and overhead lines in places, and with numerous motor-buses to outlying parts.

A CITY OF NOISE. It was probably the noisiest city in the world, there being an . incessant din without a break from the, clatter of .wooden clogs and ceaseless hooting and sliieking of motor horns. Every motor-car had three horns one going incessantly when the car was moving, the other two being reserved for special purposes; The people had no traffic sense, and motor-cars have apparently to blast a way through the crowd by noise. There were many large departmental stores, some of 12 storeys, -with eacli storey for a different class of goods, the top floor being used as roof gardens and for amusement.

INDUSTRIAL GROWTH. The chief economic features were industrialisation and Westernisation. In 80 years Japan had changed from an agricultural to an industrial country. From 1868 to 1928 the exports had changed from 26 per cent, of raw materials to 4 per cent., of semimanufactured materials from 44, per cent.- to 43 per cent., while wholly , manufactured goods from 1 per cent, to 42 per cent; of imports from 5 per cent, of raw materials to 53 per cent., of semi-manufactures from 15 per eent. to 17 per cent., and of wholly manufactured goods from 61 per cent, to 15 per cent. These figures conclusively showed the change. The manufactures included all electrical machinery, dyo stuffs, textiles celluloid goods rubber products, soap, enamel, and metal goods. The economic depression was similar to that elsewhere but worse, owing partly to the enormous expansion ot financial circles during the World War when Japan, manufactured for herself and the belligerent nations as well as having a practical monopoly in China and India, all of which trade was now lost to a large extent, the trade with China being completely lost through tho boycott.

POLITICS. In tlu* ]K)I itics there wort* two main Parties which between them polled at the last election f).‘i per cent, ol the total votes cast. Roll) Parties were conservative, and both were tied to the wheels of the big financial and industrial interests. Tin- Labour Parmer Party bad little support owing, STUDENT RADICALISM Outside the political Parties there it was said to shortage of campaign __ t _ x _

funds'(of which the two main Parties spent some £1,500,000), to lack of competent candidates, and to little popular enthusiasm. The foreign policy was largely dictated by tbe army and might well be described as militant nationalism. It mattered little what! Party was in power as Parliament had little say, lor the military and naval so-called experts had control and overruled the ideas of the members. The liberal thinkers wished for co-operation with China, acting with the League of Nations, reduction of armaments, retrenchment, and the granting of a national constitution, but popular feeling bad swung against them and their noit-ini litaristir views. Tlie great majority of the people were in a very immature stage of political education, only some 2c per cent, of the voters, a-; the suffrage was universal, being of sufficient intelligence or education not to be under tho sway of demagogue,'. They, were much disposed to hero worship and thus were an easy prey to the militarists.

were well-defined groups, military, Liberal, intellectual, and Cunmimistio which latter class was said to contain 20 per cent, of the student class. Student radicalism was due to the natural academic Utopianism of youth, which might be turneci to more practical, idealism if the student could find vocations, to the dissatisfaction and resentment, the permanent embitteiment, from the feeling of hopelessness of reform through constitutional methods, as generally there ;s no political self c-onscionsnciss among the people, and finally .radicalism grew because Parliament was overriden by the Peers, the Privy Council, and the Throne, bv all three of winch label al measures were likely io be voted. Mr Straclian finally referred to’the unplea,sing prospect that a similar state of affairs might arise in New Zealand. when 1 so many boys and students with idealistic thoughts, who could- not now find useful vents for their energy and enthusiasm, might turn to thoughts of Communism and revolution unless openings were louiid lor them. Ibis phase of the present conditions be thought a most serious one, ami full 0 f danger, lie suggested that most strenuous effort,; should be made by •ill in authority to find work t"r I ,y,s even to the neglect ot nmu\ other matter that might seem at. the niuinent politically more important,