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“...........................................................................................................................................................29
Sugar........................................................................................................................................................................29
Hides and leather ....................................................................................................................................30
Condensed mills; ..........................................................................................................................................30
Soap ........................................................................................................................................................................31
Dyes and paints..........................................................................................................................................31
Lumber ................”
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“...with very high prices, American middling being
quoted about 47 yen, Indian Brooch 43 yen and China 39 yen per
picul. These prices were maintained till July, when owing to the
good crop news from America they came tumbling down, and American
middling was quoted at 39 yen, Indian at 37 yen and China 32 yen
per picul. Since then prices have continued to fall, especially for
American, which touched 28 yen 50 sen towards the close of the year.
For a long time while prices were at their highest the mills hesitated
to place many orders, but latterly they have been making large con-
tracts for forward delivery, and as they are getting good prices for
their yarn the position is promising, notwithstanding the serious effect
which it was thought the revolution in China would have on the
cotton spinning industry in this country.
In the above table the imports from Corea are not included for
the year 1911.
They only amounted to 900 tons, worth 32,600?., compared with
2,200 tons, worth 47,900L in 1910...”
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“.... japan.
15
Taking the various items in detail, the importations of grey shirtings
and sheetings were less by 4,658,848 square yards and 13,700?. than
in 1910, and with the increasing production of the Japanese mills
it would not be surprising if this amount were still further diminished
in future.
In white shirtings the advance was considerable, from 7,409,606
square yards, worth 93,000?., to 10,346,707 square yards, worth
147,400?. Doubtless a great deal of this was due to imports in anticipa-
tion of the tariff, but although the Tokio Calico Company are now
producing white shirtings of fair quality, it will be some time before
the best qualities are interfered with.
Cotton velvets and flushes.—As regards cotton velvets and plushes,
the customs figures show a considerable falling-off in comparison
with previous years, but nevertheless importers have done very
well, and towards the close of the year the market was quite denuded
of stocks, small qualities having been even brought over...”
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“...tops there was a falling-off in Australia's
share, but China shipped 45,000?. worth more than in 1910.
Imports of woollen and worsted yarns.—The same reasons which
accounted for the falling-off in raw wool and tops are also responsible
for the decrease in weaving and hosiery yarns. The mousseline
market has been weak all the year round. There have been one
serious and several minor failures, and the business of two of the
big mills was largely interfered with by the heavy floods which occurred
in the summer. Nevertheless the outlook is quite promising. Some
of the mills (the Jomo Mousseline and the Osaka and Tokio Mousseline
Companies) are going to increase their output of mousseline, while the
makers of woollen underclothing are also enlarging their factories,
so that probably purchases of yarn will continue to increase. One
large order for 500,000 lbs., for instance, was placed by the Govern-
ment clothing factory for arrival early this year.
Particulars of imports in 1911 were as follows...”
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“...excess of the demand
and prices were kept down. There was a sudden rush towards the
end of the year for cheap tweeds suitable for making into caps to be
exported to China, and there was a fair demand for cheap army
cloths, meltons, blue serges and fancy coatings.
The domestic output is gradually increasing and the quality is
said to be improving. At present the mills are largely occupied
■with the production of army cloths, meltons and cheap woollen shawls
or comforters which have come largely into fashion. The consumption
of woollens is undoubtedly on the increase, and even though with
the help of the tariff the Japanese mills may capture the cheaper
part of the trade, there is no question but that better class qualities
will continue to be largely imported.
The following tables of statistics show the position with regard
to the four leading countries :—
Woollen Cloths and Serges of Wool,
(a) Heavy (exceeding 250 Grammes).
Country. 1910. 1911. 1910. 1911.
Sq. yards. Sq. yards. £ £...”
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“.... japan.
23
more probably will be placed in the near future in connection with
new mills and extensions of existing concerns.
Steam boilers show a very large increase, nearly the whole amount
coming from the United Kingdom. A well-known firm of British
boilermakers now have small works near Yokohama, where they
manufacture and assemble parts.
The increase in gas and oil engines continues. The United
Kingdom enjoys about 70 per cent, of the business, most of the
rest, especially in the case of the larger engines, being taken by
Germany. Small gas engines are now found in all parts of the
country, as the Japanese are gradually beginning to appreciate their
advantages. There are several kinds of Japanese engines on the
market, but although cheap they are not economical.
In sewing machines there was a large increase, heavy stocks being
imported on account of the tariff. This business is largely in the
hands of the American Singer Company, which sells its machines
on the instalment system...”
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“...toys and rubber balls fell off somewhat, but the mills in general
were working at their normal capacity to meet the demand for rick-
shaw tyres and rubber soles for tabi (Japanese socks). Competition
in the sale of the manufactured products was severe and three of
the weaker mills were obliged to close down.
As regards the raw material the demand for the lowest grade of
Borneo rubbers fell off, as a number of the mills found that the com-
parative difference in price between Borneo rubbers and the plantation
rubbers justified them in buying the latter, the shrinkage being less
and the rubber being cleaner to handle.
In the electrical department considerable progress has been made.
The mills that exist have more capital than the majority of the
mechanical rubber factories, the copper mine owners being connected
with all the insulated wire mills, either as owners or as suppliers of the
raw material. In the latter case they assist the mills by allowing
credit on the sale of bare wire. The...”
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“...The one difficulty with which the
mills have to contend is the lack of experienced technical men. They
have up-to-date machinery, but the industry is so young in Japan
that there are no native trained rubber chemists. Several mills
have experimented with foreign instructors, but the result has not
been satisfactory in most cases, owing to the inability of the instructors
to make themselves understood and the inadequacy of interpreters
for this purpose. The difficulty is one which will doubtless disappear
as time enables the technical men to acquire their experience, but
many costly mistakes have been made. The manufacture of insulated
wire has already had its influence in checking the import of European
rubber-covered wire, and in addition to this manufacture three of the
largest mills have installed plants for making lead-covered telephone
and high-tension cables. Although this is hardly directly connected
with the rubber industry, the fact that mills have branched out in
this direction...”
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“...participating in the trade, but in comparison with earlier years
Germany has been the greatest sufferer. The Japanese mills are
becoming more efficient, and as they are increasing their output, it is
probable that with the protection afforded them by the tariff they may
be able to compete successfully with the foreign paper manufacturers
and ultimately drive them out. They are, however, to a certain
extent dependent on supplies of imported pulp, and as pulp has been
going up in price the leading mills have decided to increase the cost
of their printing papers made from imported pulp, while reducing
the price of the article manufactured from local materials.
During the year the large mill of the Oji Company at Tomakomai
in the Hokkaido was burnt down.
The papers which are imported into Japan in the largest quantities
are printing and Simili, and it is to these that the Japanese mills are
now devoting their special attention, as they hope, in addition to
securing their own market, to get a large...”
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“...itself, which is reflected in the establishment
of new spinning companies and the extension of existing ones, to *
which reference will be made further on. The arrangement for
restriction of production and for the grant of bounties on export
referred to in last year's report have been in force throughout the
past 12 months, but at the beginning of 1912 it was decided that for
six months, dating from April 1, this system should be teiminated
and that in its place work should stop in all spinning mills for four
days and nights per month.
The complete figures of the Cotton Spinners' Association for the
past half jrear have not yet been published, but from the monthly
journal of this body it would appear that at the close of 1911" there
were 31 companies with 1,813,487 working spindles (1,792,404 ring
and 21,083 mule) working on an average 22 "3 hours per day and
26*3 days per month. The average count produced was 22*8 for
ring spindles and 33'4 for mules; the number of operatives was
17,531...”
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“...also
installing 300 looms. Two new companies in the neighbourhood of
^ Osaka, called the Naniwa Spinning and Weaving Company and the
Idzumi Spinning Company with capitals of 100,000/. and 150,000/.
respectively, also have been floated recently. The business of the
former will consist chiefly of making hosiery and towelling, but it
will also have a mill of 5,000 spindles. In addition to these com-
panies it is reported that several others will either commence new
business or extend their existing mills so that the total increase in
spindles will not fall far short of 200,000.
Exports of cotton underwear.—The export of cotton underwear shows
a decrease of some 40,000/., almost entirely attributable to the falling-
off iij the trade with British India, which is by far the largest consumer
of these goods. A big stock had been carried over from 1910, and
this accounts for the decreased shipments; but in the coming year
it is thought that there should be a considerable advance, owing to the
fact...”
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