TRADE WITH JAPAN

Nelson Evening Mail, 26 September 1916, Page 7

TRADE WITH JAPAN

STEAutf.SH.TiP COMMUNIOATI ON. To obtain definite information regarding the extent of the business likelv to be secured in the event of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha instituting a direct line oi steamers from Japan to New Zealand, is the mission which brought Mr W. --'CVEaister, of Burns, Philip and Company, Ltd., of Sydney to Auckland on Tuesday, by the Victoria (says the Auckland Herald). Before the war commenced. Japan was finding a~ raipidily growing market for her manufactured goods in Australia and New Zealand, while the war has resulted in Japan "usurping Germany's place to a very large extent in the Australasian and Pacific markets. There has been a material increase in the trade between Japan and' Australia and. New Zealand' during the last two years, but one of the •greatest drawbacks to further extension is the relatively poor communication available. The absence of direct shipping facilities, therefore, presents itself as a possible 'deterrent to closer trade relations. On (more than one occasion it has been reported, that the company intend to run a direc* line of steamers to New Zealand, 'but up to the present all negotiations have had no result. If, as a result of the visit of Mr M'Master, Messrs Burns, Philip and' Company make favourable recommendations to the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, for whom they act as Australian agents, it is .possible that a service may be established between Japan and New Zealand. One Japanese steamer, the Akita Maru. is due at Wellington shortly on a trial trip. Mr MTMaster intends to visit all the four centres, andi probably some of the smaller seaport tow.'is, such as Tknaru, Gisbbrne, Napier and Nelson, in oi-der to ascertain the prospects for a successful trade.