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“...to the mercantilist theory
and they derived no small satisfaction from the fact that exports
exceeded imports by nearly 2,000,000?., even though this excess was
caused by a falling-off in imports rather than by a phenomenal growth
in exports. This feeling is well illustrated in the speech of Baron
Matsuo, the President of the Bank of Japan, who, in reviewing the
foreign trade of 1909, said, " Compared with fost helium days, when
conditions were tending upward at home and abroad, the monetary
value of the trade is inferior, but regarded from the point of view
of the favourable balance of imports and exports it may be called a
good result."
It is very doubtful, however, whether merchants, either Japanese
or foreign, will remember 1909 as a particularly good year.
The cessation of the boycott in China and the absence of marked
fluctuations in silver helped to improve the general export business
to China, while the fine silk and rice crops were very important factors
in the growth of exports...”
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“...16 japan.
which reached 2,513 tons, worth 617,1002., surpassed even the record
totals of 1906, which were 2,440 tons, worth 614,600Z.
Detailed particulars will be found in Table 1 (C) (page 64), but it may
be mentioned here that the bulk of the tops (nearly 80 per cent.) were
of English combing and that the French share was once more reduced.
Perhaps the most interesting feature of the year was the arrival
of Australian tops to the value of 27,0002. This was quite a new
departure: the Australian product has the advantage in cheaper
freight, but dealers in English tops declare that they do not fear the
competition.
Imports of woolhn and worsted yams.—The imports of woollen and
worsted yarns during the past two years were as follows:—
190S. 1909.
For weaving— United Kingdom Germ any France Other countries Lbs. 301,570 1,786,973 438,084 34,S69 £ 24,600 256,000 62,000 4,800 Lbs. 255,756 1,725,977 853,908 135,249 £ 20,500 238,000 114,500 18,400
Total ... 2,561,496 347,400 2,970...”
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“...Kingdom 2,862,910 3,848,687 145,000 212,700
Germany ... ... 198,762 826,548 16,900 69,600
Netherlands...... 99,161 367,310 8,500 27,100
Belgium 5,610 76,203 700 7,000
There was a moderate and regular demand throughout the year
for union cloth, army cloth, coatings, tweeds, suitings, &c., and arrivals
met with fairly prompt clearance. Towards the end of the year large
business was booked for goods to arrive in 1910.
In mousselines there was a trifling increase in yardage but a falling-
ofE in value. There are now altogether five moussehne factories in
Japan, and besides these there are also six woollen mills in addition
to a large one owned by the Japanese Government.
There are roughly 120,000 woollen and worsted spindles in Japan
and some 3,800 power looms.
The production of mousseline is gradually increasing and the
quality improving, and exports of this fabric last year amounted to
no less than 528,155 yards, worth 17,3002.
The consumption tax on woollen textiles is to be reduced from...”
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“...and for some time a general distrust, in many cases quite misplace'd,
was felt with regard to nearly all industrial concerns.
The plea of the directors of the company who were found guilty
of illegalities was that they had to do the best they could for their
shareholders, and as the preferential treatment accorded to Formosan
sugars made it impossible for a refinery in Japan, proper to pay
dividends by' fair means, they were compelled to adopt other
methods.
A table giving the quantity and value of sugar imported in 1907,
1908 and 1909, as well as the shares of .the various participating countries
will be found in Table 1 (C), page 69....”
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“...was signed by the Standard Oil Com-
pany, the Rising Sun Petroleum Company, the Hoden Oil Company
and the Nippon Oil Company whereby they arranged to limit their
sales.
The immediate result was a big rise in the price of oil.
Imports of manures.—-The question of manures forms one of the
most interesting items of 1909.
A detailed table showing the quantities and values imported
during the past three years will be found in Table 1 (B), page 61.
Bean cake, of course, heads the list as regards value.
The total amount imported in 1909 was 575,180 tons, worth
2,283,700?., or 3?. 19s. 4
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“...and Australia, all Japan's other important customers purchased
reduced quantities of this fabric.
The reason, in the case of France, was the impending change in
the tariff which would increase the duty on habutse in the gum.
At one time America headed the list of purchasers of habutse,
but her share has fallen from 811,000*. in 1907 to 434,7002. in 1909,
and she now comes only third after the United Kingdom and France.
The year appears to have been rather a poor one because the low
market value of all lines made it necessary to do a very large business
in order to make a fair profit.
Several houses seem to have found habutse so unprofitable that they
have withdrawn altogether from this branch of trade.
The quality of Fukui silks has improved, thanks no doubt to the
new and better system of inspection, which was strongly recommended
by the foreign silk piece-goods associations, but it would appear that
many complaints are still heard about Kanazawa fabrics.
Exports of tea — The season...”
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“...for tea continued
very brisk until supplies ceased, quite suddenly, in September.
The first crop was the poorest for many years, but the second crop
came along a little better prepared.
Abundant third and fourth crops were expected, but they turned
out to be very small, owing to the close picking of the first two crops.
The cup quality of the latter crops was much better than usual,
but prices were higher than ever, and low grade leaf was selling at
figures altogether out of proportion to its value.
The year has seen an increased export of about 5,000,000 lbs., from
all ports, over the figures of 1908. The ports of Kobe and Yokohama
each contribute about 500,000 lbs. of the increase, whilst the remaining
4,000,000 lbs. have been shipped from Shimizu, the port for the Shid-
zuoka tea district. The direct shipments from Shidzuoka have thus
again made a substantial advance over the previous season, and there
is every indication pointing to a similar advance taking place during
1910, to the...”
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“...of course, tended
to lower the general standard of goods produced.
Under the new tariff the duty is 3|- cents per square yard for all
qualities, and as this will benefit the better class mattings a consider-
able improvement is anticipated.
Exports of coal.—Taking 1909 on the whole the colliery owners
did not do at all well. Towards the close of the year there was an
increased demand for Japanese coal on account of the strike in Australia,
but even so the exports both as regards quantity and value were
below those for 1907 and 1908.
It is difficult to get accurate information of coal shipments because
the statistics given by the various departments and associations do
not agree, but the following tables with regard to Kiushiu coal may
be of some interest....”
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“...decreases were in machinery, metals, cotton, piece-
goods and fertilisers. Particulars concerning these and other lines
will be found in another part of this report.
British India.—As regards British India there was a large gain
of nearly 1,700,000*. or 26 per cent., accounted for by an increase
of 1,615,000?. or 32 per cent, in imports, and 82,000*. or 6 per cent,
in exports.
This satisfactory result was brought about by the large advance
in the imports of raw cotton, which exceeded 6,234,000*. in value
compared with 4,047,000?. in the preceding year.
It was of course only to be expected that there should be a large
falling-off in the purchases of Indian rice.
In exports the showing made by habutse and copper was not as
good as in previous years, but cotton undershirts and drawers, camphor
and matches all did comparatively well and the new business in silk
yarn made considerable strides.
Hong-Kong.—Although the figures are still below those of 1907,
there was some recovery as compared with...”
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“...Table showing the Value of Goods Importedf and Exported at the Principal Porta in Japan during the Years 1908-09.
Imports. Exports. Total.
Name of Port.
1908. 1909. 1908. 1909. 1908. 1909.
£ £ £ £ £ £
Yokohama 15,443,995 13,372,953 19,477,102 20,943,733 34,921,097 34,316,686
Kobe ... 19,506,171 18,806,278 8,586,716 10,271,272 28,092,887 29,077,550
Osaka 2,743,070 2,641,264 4,690,560 4,813,027 7,433,630 7,454,291
Moji 2,241,117 1,605,357 1,526,130 1,439,842 3,767,247 3,045,199
Shimonoseki 274,127 305,372 799,308 1,040,431 1,073,435 1,345,803
Nagasaki... 1,493,844 950,669 379,487 365,620 1,873,331 1,316,299
Yokkaiohi 711,943 764,125 274,876 308,026 986,819 1,072,151
Wakamatsu 145,638 127,175 434,173 552,531 579,811 679,706
Shimizu ... 68,957 96,904 414,595 555,309 483,552 652,213
Muroran ... 444,767 420,811 138,358 117,411 583,125 538,222
Tsuruga ... 158,513 118,548 346,191 272,598 504,704 391,146
Taketoyo 332,525 314,744 6,955 22,850 339,470 337,594
.Nagoya ... 74,881 78,271...”
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“...japan.
49
Names of the Principal Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron and Coal Mines
■with their Output during the Years 1908-09—continued.
Merchandise in bonded warehouses at the end of 1909.—The following
table shows the value of goods remaining in bonded warehouses at the
end of December, in 1907-09 respectively. It will be noted that the
total value has decreased very considerably and that the amount of
rice and cotton goods particularly has declined:—
(331)
d
Copper.
1908. 1909.
Mine— Lbs. Lbs.
Asliio ...... 15,743,082 15,320,084
Kosaka... 16,000,156 14,641,530
Besshi ... 11,879,110 14,074,876
Hidachi... 4,225,724 8,668,054
Ozaruzawa 3,067,545 3,591,006
Ikuno ... 2,601,329 2,845,689
Ani 2,900,590 2,833,700
Kano 2,199,161 2,535,304
Misaichi...... 1,557,256 2,367,108
Arakawa 1,653,357 2,134,773
Hidaira...... 1,965,121 1,845,612
Okaya ... 1,547,685 1,799,537
Yoshioka 1,757,785 1,753,846
Furoso ... 1,306,110 1,726,429
Yusenji...... 1,378,380 1,719,469
Obiye ... 1,662...”
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