SHIPBUILDING IN JAPAN.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 4 June 1917, Page 2

SHIPBUILDING IN JAPAN.

SALES TO FOREIGNERS

One of the most prominent of those Japanese gentlemen who have come from Japan in connection with that country's wide extension of trade and mercantile marine services has been Mr. Nakahashi, formerly president of the Osaka Shosen Kabushiki Kaisha. Mr. Nakahashi says that before the outbreak of war Japan's merchant fleet aggregated 1,400,000 tons, most of which had been purchased from abroad. Since hostilities broke out, however, there has been no means of purchasing foreign tonnage, and Japan has had to fall back upon domestic shipbuilding yards for new vessels. "It was expected," said Mr. Nakahashi "that Japan would be able to build 200,000 tons yearly from 1917, against the 100,000 tons which had been the limit of her shipbuilding capacity. Dealing with the question of the sale of ships to foreigners, Mr. Nakahashi said: "The recent sale of about 6000 tons of Japanese shipping to foreigners in the face of the present deficiency of ships has given rise to a discussion as to the advisability of such sales. For my part I do not approve of it. A vessel which cost 350 yen per ton in Japan can be sold to a foreigner for 400 yen per ton. So long as the present state of things prevails there is reason to believe that the sale of Japanese vessels to foreigners

will go increasing. Where shipowners gain, shippers lose, and it is but natural, therefore, * that shipowners encourage the sale of Japanese vessels, while shippers advocate a veto on such transactions. In Great Britain, France, Norway, and Italy the sale of vessels to foreigners is prohibited, and in my opinion the Japanese Government ought to adopt a similar measure, even at the sacrifice of the interests of shipowners. It is argued that if the export of vessels is prohibited Japan will surely suffer from the surplus of ships that is sure to set in after the war. This theory is as untenable as it is improper ' advocate the abolition of shipbuilding bounties or to veto the construction of new steamers."