The Waikato Timesd AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1890.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2774, 24 April 1890, Page 2

The Waikato Timesd AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1890.

Equal and exact justice to all men. Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

Among the future nations of the Pacific, one of the most considerable, will be that of Japan. Its people are now ruled by a Constitutional Sovereign, its Parliaments are freely electod, and its commerce is being extended in all directions. Already the Japanese army and navy are a respectable forcc. The ships of war are entirely manned and officered by Japanese, from the admiral to the stoker. The services of Europeans are no longer indispensable in any branch ©f politics, commerce or banking. The constitution is only a couple of years old, but for several years previously this strange, wise people specially trained their young men to fit them for the new institutions. In habits, dress and food there has a'so been a complete revolution among the aristocracy and upper classes, and the change is rapidly spreading among the whole people. The consequence is a steady increas' in« trade with European nations, and with the United States of America, which has always been their close friend and largest customer. The teas of Japan are light in colour, and differ in many other respects from those of China but in America they are preferred. The growing consumption in England and in the colonies of the teas from India, has somewhat interfered with the trade in that article from Japan, but there is a strong desire to foster commerce with this young and most rising of Eastern nations. This desire lias led to the collection of much information m England as to the products and commerce of Japan generally, To us in this colony the subject is of additional interest, as wool and mutton are extremely scarce and the demand for both is assuming considerable proportions. The grass common in Japan has always proved fatal to sheep breeding. Whether this can be overcome time alone will show. Meanwhile there is every prospcct

of our doing a considerable trade if begun with the right articles and in the right direction. The subject is worth attention, and Government might well send one of its officials, or appoint some suitable person going to Japan, t» obtain trustworthy information.

A recent Japanese newspaper says that action has been already taken by a large Australian firm, who asked, through the Japanese Consul in Melbourne, for the requisite information. The Consul communicated with the Foreign Office in Tokio, by whom the correspondence was submitted to the Chamber of Commerce in that city. The Chamber speaks of wool and mutton as offering" an increasing field for importation. Fifty thousand pounds worth of wool was imported last year, and new factories are continually starting, as wool continues to supersede the cotton hitherto used as the general wear. The Chamber reported that " the demand for wool is advancing, and may be expected to become much greater in the future." Sheep are not imported in any number, but mutton and beef are an increasing article of consumption. Horses would also be found marketable, if of the right kind, though not at first in any number. Wheat, unfortunately, is among Japanese exports, and there is no market for it, but preserved meacs ought to sell well. Sugar is imported to the value of a million and a-half sterling pounds per annum, almost entirely from China and Manilla. For fruits there is said to be no market, und the Chamber considers the taste for French wines so firmly established that time would be required for the wines of Australia to make any impression. Coal is not mentioned, but if there be a market New Zealand should be able to supply it to advantage. The chief exports of Japan are silk, tea and rice. About 6000 tons of rice are exported, and the quantity has been increasing steadily for some years. But the most curious reference is that made by the Chamber to matches. So great has been the increase in the number of match factories that they consider it specially desirable that I new markets shotild be found for the product. The description of matches made in Japan is not given, but the price is said to be in Tokio about 4Gs per 600 dozen, adding 12s for packing, 2s for shipping, and 2s 6d for export duty, and the price per 600 dozen would be 62s 6d on board the steamer in Tokio. It is odd to see among the flourishins; manufactures of Japan such an article as matches, while, with a heavy protective duty, we have not a single factory of the kind in New Zealand. Whether the Japan woods are especially suitable, or what other cause there may be, there is nothing in the report to show. Enough is said to warrant our Government making the most full enquiries with a view to closer intercourse with this rising country. From its position it is sure to become the centre of a large trade with the continent off which it lies, and the extension of its commerce should make Japan a valuable customer for some of our staples. To be early in the field, in such cases, is of great importance, and where the preliminary cost is so small the sooner that trustworthy information is obtained the better. Government might also inquire into the postal relations between New Zealand and Japan, which a writer in the same newspaper describes as at present very unsatisfactory. According to his account, it costs double to communicate from Japan with New Zealand, that it does with any part of Australia, the postage per halfounce being Is in the one case and only Gd in the other. The letter referred to is dated December 12th, at Yokohama, the writer, who signs himself Southern Cross, complains of this as a serious drawback. It is one that should be looked to and remedied without delay.