JAPAN TO=DAY

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20955, 7 November 1939, Page 12

JAPAN TO=DAY

VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS A CHANGE APPARENT **The efficiency of Japan is marvellous; it is the most efficient country I have ever been in,” said Mr J. T. Matson, a well-known city stock auctioneer, who has returned from a trip to the East, in an interview with the Press. Mr Matson was in Japan just before the outbreak of war, and was able to discuss the change of attitude which he saw when the German approach to Soviet Russia took place. He spoke of this and of general conditions as he had observed them in the East. A Swing Over “From the moment that Germany announced her intention to advance a loan to Russia the tension eased,” he said. “It appeared that Japan was just on the point of attempting to take Hong Kong. But even our guide at Hong Kong as we were returning home said that he now felt safe. Japan wavered in her friendship to Germany and swung over to an attitude of friendliness to Britain.” Mr Matson spoke very favourably of the reception given to English visitors in Japan. He said that, although accounts of anti-British feeling were given in the newspapers, he had met with nothing but the greatest kindness and hospitality. The day before he had arrived in Tokyo, at the time when Japanese army heads had arrived to discuss the Tientsin situation with Sir Robert Craigie, there had been an antiBritish procession. A payment of 30 sen and a bottle of lemonade was made to anyone who would take part. It appeared that the procession had taken place without any interest on the part of the general population, and actually several European stokers from a visiting ship had accepted the fee and taken part. A change came with the approach of Germany to Russia. Mr Matson said that he saw a hotel bearing the notice: “Soviet and English gentlemen not invited.” Next day the notice was changed to “Soviet and German gentlemen not invited.” At the same time, he said, he knew of one English gentleman who had gone into the hotel before the notice was altered and had received the utmost hospitality. Cleanliness and Efficiency Discussing the general conditions of life in Japan as he had seen them, Mr Matson mentioned particularly the cleanliness as well as the efficiency of the people. He said that children were the “god” of Japan. They all appeared to be well fed and healthy. The people were extremely honest, and actually it seemed that a visitor was safer in the side-streets of the out-of-the-way towns than in a street in Christchurch on Friday night. Hotels were of a standard beyond any known in New Zealand, and that of the railways and the ships was equally high. Every inch of the country was cultivated (although even then rice had to be imported). He saw no evidence of sheepfarming, it appeared that all the sheep imported from New Zealand must have gone to Manchukuo. The cattle seemed to be a cross between the zebu and the water buffalo, and were about 13 hands high. Petrol Shortage There seemed to be an acute petrol shortage, he said. All cars were run on a mixture of petrol and wood alcohol. This mixture ceased to function when the engine became hot, and even taxis had to stop and

wait till the engines became cool at intervals during their journeys Trucks were all of a standard pattern and painted khaki, ready to be commandeered for army service. They carried charcoal burners generating gas on which the engines could run. Shortage of metals was another great difficulty in Japan. Everywhere the people were working hard, even in heavy rain. But the people were always clean and their homes were like the pictures one was accustomed to see. They Lived mainly on rice and fish.