TRADE WITH JAPAN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17288, 2 October 1916, Page 4

TRADE WITH JAPAN.

MORE SHIPPLNG IXQUIRIE^. Jlr W. M'Mnster, of Messrs Burns, Philp and Cc, Ltd., o$ Sydney, the managing agenta tor Australasia oi Iho iN'jppon . Yusen Kaisliu, was in Christcluivch on Saturday with the object of tißcertaining ciio prospects, ior a direct steamship service between Japan and New Zealand. ill* M'Masier told a reporter that hitherto cargo for New Zealand had been shipped by way of Australia, and in addition to the disadvantages of' transhipment New Zealand importers had frequently boon unable to secure space in the Australian steamers for the whole of the cargo they wished to ship to New Zealand, on account of the greatly increased trade to Australian ports. As trade with New Zealand wai also increasing, the only solution appeared to bo a distinct line of steamers for New Zealand, and although, should this be established, tho steamers for somo time would probably still take cargo for Australia, the present position would be reversed, and New Zealand importers would hare priority in the allotment of space in these steamers, whicn, if not filled for New Zealand, would then take the remainder of their cargo for Australia. Similarly, on the return trip to Japan all cargo offering from New Zealand could be taken, although it was probable that for a considerable time the steamers mu.3t return by way of Australia in order to. procure full cargoes for thoir return trip.

The Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Mr M'Master added, was the largest steamship company in Japan", running mail services "under contract with the Japanese Government, to England, Australia, tlio United States and elsewhere, in addition to numerous other non-contract lines. It had a fleet of about a hundred large steamers, in addition to a number now building. Of this fleet a great many ships had been built in' Japan, -where there vrore several dockyards capable of building steamers of the largest' size and highest class.