March 6, 1895.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. and will be reciprocated by this Govern.that, in fact, as they were only in the position remembered that it has to import nearly all its ment should opportunity occur. The proof intermediaries between other countries and raw cotton from India-Bombay chiefly. In dacts which Mr. Dyer has brought with Japan, we had to create a demand amongst the 193 Japan imported 425,000 yen worth of wool, him will be exhibited in the City Ball on Japanese, which they, the foreign merchants, chiefly from Australia. Wednesday (to-morrow), and in view of all that would be glad to supply when it arose. This was ports about 8,000,000 yen worth of woollen goods At present Japan im has been said and written in regard to Aus- rather discomforting, but it was plain enough, and it is fully believed by everyone who knows tralia's enterprise, its produ te, aud its trade Australia had to populariz › its products amongst anything about the matter that in a few years missions, it is very probable that this exhibition the people of Japan to such a degred that they Japan will herself be a large woollen mann. will be largely attended, especially as it will be would order them through such channels as they facturer, both for home consumption and for open freely to everyone, and its exhibitswill chief- were in the habit of doing business through. ly consist of those goods in which every Euro-
export. The woollen manufacturers evidently "I naturally represented this view in Austra recoguise the well-known superiority of Aus penn household in Hongkong is interested. lia and I was despatched on the present mission. tralian wools, as the following réturus of imports. Though wool, leather, fallow, soaps, etc, are I was the bearer of a large collection of Austra show. Japan imported wool from Australia as leading features, the majority of the goods are lian products to the Emperor of Japan, a present follows:-1893, 217,306 yen; 1891, 380,673 yan. of the character of food products, such as wines.fr m the Government of Victoria. As a conse There is no country in the world where skins, spirits. jams, fruits, biscuits, butter, cheese, quan.c.I was obliged to accompany them to hides, and leather are cheaper and better than hams, flour, tinned meats, soups, preserves, per- Tokyo. There the greater portion were taken in Australia, for obvious reasons. fumery, and many other interesting articles.
Japan, over by the Government and distributed through though as yet in its infancy in these manufac- While it is open to everyone to discuss Ans the leading Japanese Chambers of Commerce. Atures. imports 420,000 yen of hides and skins, tralia's efforts in the direction referred to, it is very practical course, indeed. I was determind yet only imports about 150 yan worth from incomprehensible to us that anyone should that these samples should be properly deal with Australia. It imports 00.000 you of leather, depreciate them. Yet we full that such views and properly appreciated. I was are held by it is to be hoped-a limited number the Japanese Chambers of Commerce of Tokyo, | 140,000 yen of bones, books, and horns, yet puly entertained by yet only 3.000 yen from Australia. It imports in the foreigu settlements of Japan. In our Nakai, and Kobe. At each dinder the wines about 12,000 yen from Australia. It imports about case we are only too glad to welcome Mr. Dyer and food products of australia (wore leading 1,250,000 yen worth of flour, wines, butter, tinued or any other commissiouer coming amongst us features. The Japanese newspapers told how meats, and other provisious, of which Australia with the same objects in view. The only feature they were appreciated. I saw many translations supplied only about 31,000 yen last year, chiefly that can possibly be objectionable to anyon is and they spoke in glowing terms of the excel in one or two large orders for war stores. Surely increased competition in certain goods Nolent taste and high quality of these ustralian these figures shed a light of magnificent pos one, excepting those importers whose interests products. Yet, peculiarly, all the European news-sibilities over Australia's, prospective market are mainly confined to ous or two particular papers in Japan, with two exceptions, were in Japan. lines, will object to this. The general consumer quite silent on the subject, though they have The success of the Japanese in their cotton, benefits by cheaper prices and bettor qualities; translators in every office. for excellence in quality and cheapness in price
paper, match, and other manufactures indisput, Further, the Japanese Tovernment behaved ably proves that they will play a leading part in will determine the survival of the fittes; there in a manner that cannot fail to make Australia the supply of manufactures in genral to those will be greater activity in finding fresh outlets grateful. They appointed an offiei froin the cuntries washed by the waters of the Pacific for increased imports, and there will be that Department of Commerce to accompany me and conveniently situated with respect to Japau. enterprise and activity which has establishod the turough Japan, and in every place I visited ong The healthiest trade between countries is that saying that competition is the life of tradi“ or two officials from the local tidvoranuts staff in which there is equi abis interchange. No Hongkong has been fittingly designated the were toll off to attend me. The Deportalent of country can satisfactorily supply another lover hub of Asia's east coast trade." As such we Commere also published in Japanes and dis- far reaching as if the ship have to return are prepared to hail with satisfaction the advent tributed through the different Chambrs à com empty for want of cargo. ilow are Japan and of any new or cheaper products that will increase plote list of Australia's chief products with ustralia situated in this regard? The reply to our trade with the mainland. Therefore we compírative prices attached. Jam liighly satis- this query is very interesting and quite satis gladly welcome Mr. Dyer.
fi d with the result of my mission to Japan. I factory. High labour wage null limited working As we remarked in an article about three have succeeded in creating a demand, the know hours in Australia will provent that country weeks ago, there are those in Japan who hold that many orders have gone fo ward. But we becoming a manufacturer to any extent for other views. Some of the newspapers in the will not have long to wait for resuls. The Cus. generations to come, and, perhaps, never with foreign settlements of Kobe and Yokohama | toms returns for the next twelve months will!
European labour. But Australia can supply have stated that 6
the present trade between provide the best answers to those who are many products which Japan requires and cannot Japan and Australia is small enough without se ptical of larger markets in Japan for Ans- pro luce in quantity, and in the production of splitting it up amongst more merchants than tralia and will show the best proofs of my sue, which working hours and tho pries of labour are are at present engaged in the trade,” and that | Cass. As to whether the foreigners or the of little account; for nature is the chief factor. the development of Australia's trade with Japan Japans will conduct this trad is not my should be left to the private enterprise of the
concern. I presume it will go to those who are merchants in the foreign settlements; that fest"
Mr. Dyer could have got all he wanted from the foreign Chambers of Commerco without going to the Japanese,” and that they fail to see what such missions are expected to achieve." It appears that these noslaughts arose through Mr. Dyer passing by Kobe and Yokohama and going straight to Tokyo and the Japanese Chambers of Commerce. Un the occasion o our interview with Mr. Dyer we referred to this matter and Mr. Dyor replied :-
C
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gards Hongkong Japan.
Japan will import Australia's wool and sand back woolleu manufactures; hides, skius, and leather, and return bags, boots, and other manu- That there are openings for a more extensive factures; bones, and return brushes and such like trada between Japan and Australia there shoulgoods; hoofs, and return i nitation tortoiseshell not be the least doubt. That this is best and in the shape of combs, etc.; sandaland other wo ds, most rapidly brought about by such out rprise and return furniture and wood ornaments; pearl as Mr. Dyer is engaged in should be qually shell, and send back wares made therefrom; glue, Plain. Almost the entire trade of the commer and return wood matches (in the manufacture f cial world is being conducted by what are known which glue plays the chief part); tallow, and re- as commercial travellers. They exhibit samples turn soaps and candles; jule, fx, and hemp (in of their goods, explain their character and excel cones of time), and return carpets, cordage, etc. lenca,
*, quote prices dud terms, and report results: noil and rabbit hair, and roturn hats; lead, When those criticisms of my mission ap- though on an official and larger scale, as it is the
This mission of Mr Dyer's is somewhat similar,tin, etc., and return metal wares. peared in the foreign newspapers of Japan they intiatory step. We do not presam to say that trade between Japan and Australia does not If, with the prospect of this interchange, the astounded me. I am glad to say that only two newspapers lent themselves to these extraordi-is quite so in the products mentioned, Loth as re-change of which at present there is no sign.
our trado with Australia is a new thing. but it rapidly increase it will be owing to some great nary views, but considering that they had seen a reprint, which appeared in some of the Japanese newspapers, from the Melbourne Argus setting forth the itinerary, description, and purpose of my mission in plain and to me-very flattering terms, their views are, speaking mildly, most narrow-minded.
We all know that the foreign merchants in Japan are the pioneers of Japan's foreign trade, and Australia is grateful to them for its share. But that share is not enough Hitherto we left it entirely to. their enterprise. That was not fair. Australia had a right to contribute some of the push that is necessary in opening up markets for foreign goods in new countries. Hence last year's mission and the one I am now conducting. Wo flattered our- selves last year that we would be received with open arns by the foreign merchants in Japan, as we were contributing such assistance as would increase their import business.
When we approached them last year and submitted our proposals and our goods they replied that there was no demand for Australian products beyond that which existed at the time then being fully supplied; that they, the foreign population in Japan, were small in number; and qiatif we wanted a larger market in Japan for our dzoducts we bad to look to the Japanese for it;
is good reason to believe that the interchange If we are to take statistics as our guide there of trade between Australia and Japan is about close attention of both conutri s. to assnine proportions that should command the Taking the returns of the last two years we find the following results of Japan's trade with Australia:
Imports into Japan 1893.......319,31 1894.......533,900
1
yen
**
Exports from Japan
890,637 yen 1,006,00
When we notice the great difference between those values of imports and exports we can quite understand Australia's desire to secure a more quitable interchange. But these figures do not peve greater possibilities on either side It is not in small goods that Australia can expect to find a large market in Japan. Where, then, are the prospects for a large trade? We find that Mr. Dyer has these at his fingers' ends, and that statistics and trade reports cfirm them.
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PRESENTATION TO MR, E. J.
ACKROYD.
On Monday morning His Honour Mr. E. J. Ackroyd was visited in his room by the follow- ing officers of the Supreme Court :-Mr, A. G. Wise, Acting Puisne Judge, and Messrs. C. F. A. Sangster, F. Hazeland. R. F. Lainmot, A. R. Madar, J. D. Ball, F. Howell, V. de Sales, A, Brown, J. M. Santos, C. J. Xivier, Li Hong Mi, Leung Chan, and Mok Man Cheung, Mr. Wise acted as spokesman and in a brief and appropriate speech, presented on behalf of the officers of the Court a very handsome pearl shell card receiver où an exquisite silver pedestal on which is in- scribed- Presented to His Honour Mr. E. J. Ackroyd. on his retirement from the Govern. ment Service, by the officers of the Supreme Court of Hongkong. Maroh, 1895. His The most important product in this regard is | Lordship. in acknowledging
the present, wool Japan is only in its veriest infancy as a spoke with evident emotion, and said that it would wool en maunfacturing country as it was three ever be a most precious keepsake and was es- or four years ago as a cotton goods manufacturer; pecially dear to him coming, as it did, from those yet now it exports nearly 2,000,000 yen worth who were so continually with him and so well of the latter, as well as manufacturing for its able to judge him from a near and critical stand- own enormous consumption. And it must be point. During the thirty years of his service
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