September 2, 1896.
partly other causes. The manufactures established at Shanghai are responsible in no small degree for the commercial progress of the port, but we cannot admit that the difference between Hongkong and Shanghai in that respect is due in any marked degree to the superior enter- prise of the latter and the sluggishness of the former; it is due to natural causes over which the individual has little control. O Wề
do not say that more might not be done in Hongkong, or that the Chamber of Commerce might not by energetic action have secured years ago recognition of the right to trade under transit pass in the southern provinces, but shortcomings might also be pointed out in connection with the direction of commercial affairs at Shanghai; An examination of the figures quoted above ought to be suffi- cient to show our Northern contemporary that in his comparison between trade in the North and trade in the South he is wrong both in his premises. and his conclusions.
TRADE BETWEEN JAPAN AND INDO-CHINA.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
day but that being lower than the price "at the date the contract was entered into,
the trick was played.'
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In dealing with Japanese, the letter goes on to say, it is necessary to have ample security, confirmed by a foreign bank, because in Japan the Euro- pean is always held to be in the wrong and in case of a dispute as to the quality of goods there is no serious arbitrament. Pre- cautions must therefore be taken in ad- vance, a procedure which does not please Japanese firms and which restricts business. "The Chinese, on the other hand, are "not repulsed by the Japanese proceedings, "but know how to guard against them by maintaining in Japan a large number of "agents who receive their vessels from Hongkong and Canton and sell the rice "from hand to hand, making money or losing it according as the market rises or "falls. This is the habitual Chinese system "of speculation, which could not be adopted by a European house baving its social and "commercial honour to safeguard. But it "is also this sentiment which ruins us and "renders impossible all competition with "the Chinese, the great monopolists of our "export trade." We must confess we do not see any foundation for this last com- plaint. If, as M. ROLLAND says, business cannot safely be done with Japan by con- tract, then the obvious course is to sell for cash and take the risk of the market, which is a perfectly legitimate form of commercial speculation. The fact that the Chinese adopt that course and make handsome profits thereby redounds to their commercial ability and acumen and by no means reflects on their social or commercial honour. It would be equally open to the French merchants of Saigon to establish agencies of their own in Japan through which they could transact business, but if for want of enterprise, or want of capital, they do not do so, that is their own fault or misfortune, as the case may be, and cannot be laid to the charge of the Chinaman.
con-
It is unfortunate for Japan that the com- mercial morality of her merchants should be held in such ill repute. Two instances of the tricks to which they resort are given in a letter recently addressed by the Chairman of the Saigon Chamber of Commerce to the Lieutenant-Governor of Indo-China. M. LE MYRE DE VILERS, the Deputy of the Colony, had addressed the Lieutenant-Gov- ernor pointing out the great discrepancy between the quantity of rice exported from Saigon to Japan, according to the French statistics, and the quantity imported by Japan, according to Japanese statistics, and requesting an explanation of the discrepancy. The letter was forwarded to the Chamber of Commerce to obtain the information asked for, and the explanation given is that at Saigon only rice shipped direct to Japan is entered as for that destination, whereas Japan imports largely from Hongkong, and, Asiatic competition, however, is held in moreover, the rice entered in the statistics great dread at Saigon, and some fear exists of Japan as Saigon rice probably in- lest that of the Japanese should be added cludes grain from other countries. Having to that of the Chinese. If direct relations given this explanation in considerable were established with Japan, says Mr. detail, the Chairman of the Chamber goes ROLLAND "they would certainly be on to say that it would be desirable if "ducted by the Chinese, but by the "French merchants could establish direct "laws of trade Japan would also have direct relations with Japan and dispense with the "relations, with us. Would we not then Chinese middleman, but unfortunately this "see arriving in Cochin-China, if only seems hopeless, several merchants, having "to pay for the rice exported direct, made the attempt and failed. One cause all the articles of Japanese manufac- of this is the irregularity of the trade, the "ture of which Europe justly dreads amount imported depending on the outturn "the competition. Japan beer, even wine of the local crop, and sometimes two or three "it is said, shoes, clothing, cotton goods, years will pass without any exportation from" etc. etc., would replace amongst us Saigon, for Japan. "Besides," continues M. goods of French origin, and to the Chinese, ROLLAND, we have good reasons for being "to whom we are already tributary, would on our guard against the well known bad "be added Japanese merchants of all kinds. faith of Japanese importers. I will cite a "It is well understood that all this will recent incident bearing on this point. An "arrive, both men and goods, by the important Saigon firm, having made a "vessels of the Japanese navigation com- "contract for delivery of a cargo of rice in panies, already dangerously powerful, and Japan, had it thrown on its hands under "of which England and Germany are par "the pretext that the quality of the grain "ticularly afraid. As France has equally was not in accordance with the contract, "strong reasons to fear this menacing com- "the true reason being that on the arrival" petition of Asiatics, would it not be "of the rice the market had fallen. "most imprudent on our part to open "In another instance the shipping company our arms to it and be the first to provoke was made the victim. Acceptance of a it? The Chamber, like every one cargo of rice from Saigon was refused at else, believes in liberty when it is “Yokohama under the pretext that fermen-" favourable to the interests we have in tation had set in, and this through the | " charge, but we pull a wry face at it when fault of the ship. To put an end to the "it is in favour of others, especially when irritating discussion the Company took "those others are foreigners.". M. ROL over the cargo on account of the con- LAND's letter affords a good explanation of cerned and sold the rice by public auction, how it is that the French colomes are non- when it realised the highest price of the progressive. The very persons who ought
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to promote trade in all directions, trusting to their own ability to profit by all new developments, are amongst those who would stifle all: progress and enterprise
for fear that some one else might profit by it. While this spirit prevails other nations have little cause to fear French commercial rivalry in open markets, but it affords good ground* for opposing French territorial acquisitions, the main object of which is to markets to free competition.
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TAXATION OF MANUFACTURES
IN CHINA.
the
As will be seen from the memorial" of the Taungli Yamen, it is proposed
proposed that the goods turned out by manufactories estab- lished in China shall pay a duty of ten per cent., which shall exempt them from all further charges for likin, etc. If the proposal be approved and honestly carried out foreigners interested in the factories so rapidly springing up at Shanghai will pro- bably not be seriously dissatisfied. The duties to which the goods would be subjected has at various times formed the subject of newspaper discussion. It is provided in the Shimonoski treaty that "All articles "manufactured by Japanese subjects in "China shall in respect of inland transit "and internal taxes, duties, charges, and "exactions of all kinds”.
stand upon "the same footing and enjoy the same pri vileges and exemptions as merchandise ' imported by Japanese subjects into China.” This rendered them liable to a five per cent. duty (the equivalent of the import duty); on being conveyed into the interior they would be liable to the transit duty of two-and- a-half per cent.; it was also contended by some that they would be liable to the coast trade duty of two-and-a-half per cent. when conveyed by sea from one open port to another; and in addition to all these they would be liable to the same charges for lekin as imported goods. It will be seen therefore that the single tax of ten per cent., if it really secures immunity from all further charges, is not an unfa- vourable rangement for the factories. The squeeze system being so deeply seated in China, however, some misgiving may be entertained as to how far the single payment will really secure immunity from further charges; whether, in fact, such immunity will not be merely nominal. That is exactly the same point that arises in connection with the proposed revision of the import tariff, and very substantial guarantees would have to be given before foreigners would feel full confidence in the honest carrying out of the agreement.
PUBLIC LIGHTING AND THE WELSBACH BURNERS.
A committee which recently sat in Hong- kong to consider the question of public lighting recommended the use of Welsbach burners, their reasons being as follows
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(1) The present cost of upkeep per lamp "of 11 or 12 candle-power is $2.85 per mensem, whereas that for the Welebach of "25 to 30 candle-power will only be $2.70, so that the initial cost of the burner will therefore be recouped in four years, after- which a saving of about 5 per cent per "annum will accrue while the brilliancy the lights will be doubled at once. "The Welsbach burner, requiring "lantern is less liable to exting
The Welsbach gives
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intense light for the purp "mittee have in view and is much cheaper "than the electric lamp in the initial cort
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