JAPANESE TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1933, Page 5

JAPANESE TRADE

BID FOR INDIA BRITISH ACTION PROPOSED. (British Officii Wireless.) RUGBY, May 27. In a speech at the annual Bombay dinner at London, Sir S. Home (Secretary for India) said that the problem of the Japanese trade competition in India was one that was new in its present magnitude in the experience of India and of. the British Empire. He did not blame the Japanese competitors for attempting to capture the Indian markets, but it was necessary to consider how best to deal with thi s competition.

It was founded on very cheap labour, nn very efficient machinery and on a highly-depreciated Japanese exchange. On this urgent problem, action must be taken if the Indian trade was not to receive an. irrevocable injury. There was also the problem of the raising of commodity prices. Both of these problems Could be approached far more effectively by British and Indian business men, working together and fre© from the interference of politics, REPORT ON JAPANESE WAGES. May 30 at 9.43 a.m.) W ir '; LONDON, May 20. '■‘The''(British commercial counsellors’ report on economic conditions ■ in Japan, shows that the average daily wages are increasing. Female silk operatives earn 9:1, male bricklayers 2s 9d, moulders 2s 6d, carpenters 2s 3d, day labourers Is 6d. The highest wag© in 1933 was 7s daily, the highest average being ss. The lowest girl matchworkers earn 7t)cl daily. The “Times” emphasises that tariffs would be ineffective against the Japanese, because the low prices attract consumers. The simpler faith of older generations that Western labour’s superiority will counterbalance lower Eastern wages, must be revised. Japanese wages have not advanced. Ah unpleasqrit surprise is anticipated when adjustments are due, and stock must be renewed with higher exchange rates. However, the Japanese are progressively .rationalising, improving their organisation, and technique and reducing costs. : r