A JAPANESE MARKET

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1070, 6 September 1930, Page 11

A JAPANESE MARKET

POSSIBILITIES OF NEW SHIPPING SERVICE

DIRECT TRADE PREFERRED

The extension to New Zealand of the Osaka Shosen Kabushiki Kaisha line’s cargo service between Australia and Japan, as announced in a cable message received yesterday, is being welcomed by Atickland merchants. Although not exactly what was wanted, it is considered to be the nucleus of a direct trade between j New Zealand and Japan.

As announced yesterday, tlie Brisbane Maru will be the first vessel to call at Auckland. She is to sail from lk Moji on October 1, for Hongkong, Manila, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Wellington and Auckland, arriving 1 here on November 5.

Recently, a visit was paid to Auckland by a representative of this line, when, in the course of discussion, it was suggested that a direct service between Japan and New Zealand would be a big stimulant to trade between both countries, a direct service being desired particularly if butter was to be carried as return freight. It was stated that if the service was not reasonably direct the handling of butter might be attended with some difficulties. START OF DIRECT TRADE Mr. A. B. Roberton, Consul for Japan, informed a Sun representative this morning that the new service could be regarded as the nucleus of a ‘ direct trade between the two countries. Mr. Roberton expressed the view that with regular shipping services between the two countries a good trade could be built up. Japan’s population was increasing at the rate of 1,000.000 a year, and her crops of rice, which constituted the principal diet of most classes, were inadequate. There was also a shortage of other foodstuffs. New Zealand could supply wheat, flour, condensed milk, butter, wool, leather and hides, and in future years he thought Japan would be able to take considerable quantities of meat from Australia and New Zealand.

Mr. M. Stewart, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, considered that the new service would open up the possibility of trade with tho East. At present, no particulars were available in regard to the freight rates, but it would be assumed that the freight on goods so shipped would be lower than on those that had to be transhipped as at present. BUTTER AND WOOL Mr. Stewart referred to a report drawn up by Professor Belshaw on his return from the East and which had recently been released by the Government. Dr. Belshaw had reported that there were good prospects for trade with Japan in butter, casein, tinned cream, tallow, hides, leather and wool. There were also moderate prospects in other lines.

Goods from Japan find their way in here easily enough and as a rule their prices will stand transhipping costs, said Mr. Stewart. New Zealand’s endeavour should be in the direction of getting its goods into Japan, and by a direct service if possible.