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“...long enjoy this monopoly. There seems
no reason why, now that shipments are made direct from Pacific
ports, Canada should not obtain a share of the trade ; and the
Japanese themselves are already erecting mills in various parts
of Manchuria to grind the native grain and put it on the market.
In appearance it is undoubtedly inferior to the American ; but, at
the same time, it is said to make a flour possessed of those glutinous
qualities dear to the Chinese palate. Moreover, the mills them-
selves are in close proximity to the great Manchurian wheat belt and
that means cheapness in price. In addition there are, further north,
within Russian spheres of influence, the Harbin and other mills,
which may yet enter into competition, in the remoter parts of
Manchuria at least, with the imported article....”
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| 2 |
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“...succeeded ; but it is generally believed that a prominent
Japanese merchant in Tokyo has obtained from the Manchurian Rail-
way Company the lease of a site suitable for the purpose.
The correctness of a rumour that a Japanese company has
secured a monopoly for the sale of this article is officially denied.
Rice and sake, both articles in which the Japanese rather than Rice mul
the foreign merchant is interested, have been imported almost8ake-
entirely for the benefit of the troops quartered in Manchuria or for
the Japanese residents. In the case of rice it would appear that the
figures given in the table are incorrect. The real price per koku of
5 bushels is 16 yen, whereas, according to the table, it works out
at only about 3 yen 20 sen.
The timber imported comes at present for the most part from the Timber.
Hokkaido. At least one foreign firm has applied for permission
to establish a lumber yard here, the timber to come from the Pacific
seaboard of America, but the application was, so I...”
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| 3 |
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“...endeavour
to deflect from Newchwang the trade in a commodity in which she
herself is so greatly interested, the more so as she can offer producers
facilities for continuous shipments throughout the year, whereas the
other port is, owing to the freezing of the Liao River, to all intents
Snd purposes closed throughout the winter months. It may easily
be surmised too that, when the railway is in full working order, this
trade will increase in volume.
At present the bean cake mills in use throughout Manchuria
are of Chinese design, ancient and primitive, worked by hand, and
with limited capacity of output; but it is believed that the Mitsui
Bussan Kwaisha are contemplating the erection in Tairen of a mill
furnished with hydraulic machinery of a new and improved type.
If the experiment proves successful it will undoubtedly mean a
complete revolution in the present methods of manufacture.
A glance at the tables attached to this report will show that for
the moment the three chief articles bought from...”
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| 4 |
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“...implements. Many of these things are, of course, made in Japan,
but not so cheaply and so well that there is no room left for the
foreign manufacturer to compete.
It should be borne in mind that no great demand for foreign
goods is likely to arise in the country districts of the Liaotung penin-
sula itself, which are apparently neither rich nor fertile. The foreign
merchant must look for his market either to the railway and one or
two towns like Tairen, or to the more prosperous regions of Manchuria
which lie outside the leased territory.
So far there has been no inrush of foreign merchants into General
the newly opened port, which is scarcely to be wondered at, in remarks.
view not only of the present state of uncertainty regarding the
future of the place but also of the disabilities under which for
the time being all alike labour. In the first place the regulations rJttnd
relating to the leasing of property are sufficiently vexatious to regulations,
deter any but the most enterprising...”
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