JAPANESE GOODS.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 8 March 1920, Page 4

JAPANESE GOODS.

Japanese goods continue to find a market in (lie Dominion, but I heir lack of durability i-n many instances is causing the public to look at them askance, and to cherish the hope that it will not be long before tsore substantial British manufactures are obtainable with greater facility. Particularly is this so in the case of glassware ami gl.bes for gas fittings. At the present time it is somewhat difficult to buy a good British globe, and the Japanese practically control the market in this respect. "I consider that the .Japanese had an excellent opportunity to capture trade with their goods." remarked one shopkeeper to a ''Dominion" reporter, "but Jic fact thai many of the things they turn out are ultimately found t« be flimsy in nature has spoiled their chance of maintaining a hold on the market of the Dominion. Ji w ill be only a matter of time when Japanese manufactures will lie out of the field so far as Jfew Zealand public is concerned." That some shopkeepers apparently hesitate to place Japanese goods openly before the public was evidenced the other day. when a la-ly went into a shop to purchase a glass vase. When the vase was turned upside down, a label bearing the mime of the shopkeeper was found affixed to the bottom. The label was scraped off. and the purchase! learned that the vase had been made in Japan. She expressed regret that she had been unable to procure a British article.

An interesting point in connection with the shortage of supplies of chin* in Auckland, brought to light in the course of inquiry by a • • Xew Zealand

Herald" reporter, was the'growing dislike for Japanese chir.aware. "We doa't like, the stuff, and don't like the Japanese methods of doing business." remarked a leading merchant. •• Neither are dependable, and our experience during the last few years has been such that we are now cutting Japan out of our trade as far as possible. The china has neither the appearance nor the quality of good old English ware, and we wonldn 'r touch it at all if we could get any r.ther." The statement was amply borne out by proprietor* of Auckland restaurants and refreshment rooms, who said that this Eastern china chipped so Teadiiy as to rapidly become unsightly and unfit for use.