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“...import amounting to 11,805,000?., as compared
with 8,438,500?. in 1906 and 11,293,000?. in 1905, which until then
had been the only case of a single year passing the 10,000,000?.
mark. India and Egypt both contributed a larger proportion of this
staple than ever before, but America's share was considerably less
than in 1905, while China's total was surpassed in 1904.
The following were the principal fluctuations in price during
the year:—
Large purchases of American cotton were made by the mills
when the slump came in the autumn as a consequence of the crisis
in New York, but towards the end of the year they held back again.
Legitimate transactions have been much interfered with by the
wild speculating that now goes on in this business in Japan.
This refers particularly to Indian a,nd American staples.
Per PicuL*
January. i July. August. November.
Yen sen Yen sen | Yen sen Yen. Yen. Yen.
American middling 33 00 to 33 50 1 37 50 39 35 to 3fi
Indian broach 20 00 „ 29 50 ! 31...”
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“...increased very largely, it was found that the amount contracted
for was in excess of requirements, and as the prices in the home
markets were still high, buyers were able either to get their contracts
cancelled or to have the goods shipped to the Continent instead of
out here. As usual all the yarns, except some 12,000?. worth, were
of British spinning.
Prices during the year were as follows :—
The imports in the future will probably be confined to the finer
counts, though even those the Japanese mills can now produce to
some extent, I have found that several of the big Japanese silk
Weavers who use cotton yarns prefer British spinnings.
The coarser yarns imported are used chiefly as thread for sewing
the Japanese " tabi " (or stocking made of blue or white cotton).
Imports of cotton piece-goods. Cotton flannels.—There is a large
decrease in both quantity and value. Importers complain of
unreasonable claims made against them by native buyers.
Price per Bale.
January. ! July. December...”
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“...18
japan
This Bill has been referred to a Committee, and it is worthy of
note that the motion to alter the basis of the tax was defeated in
Committee by only one vote. There is consequently still some hope
that a change may be made, if not in all classes at least in those on
which the duty according to the conventional tariffs is specific.
The arrangement of a suitable specific basis, when the native
mills are also taken into consideration, no doubt constitutes a difficult
and complicated problem, but the necessity for it will be grasped when
the following simple facts are studied.
According to the customs returns the average price of the follow-
ing fabric per square yard is —
Son yen.
Umbrella cloth 24 8
Now I am assured by one of the leading import houses that the
basis of prices on which they sold their umbrella cloths ranged from
34 to 46 sen per square yard. Some orders have, however,
been pla,ced as low as 20 sen, but as these orders were comparatively
few, the most conservative...”
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“...prevous position,
having increased by 9,000?., or 53 per cent.; the Japanese, however,
are not yet experienced enough to distinguish between cheap
American flour and the better but high priced Canadian products.
The reduction in the import of flour is, of course, directly ascribable
to the growth of the flour-milling industry in this country and the
larger purchases of wheat; the figures for wheat being 374,600?.
in 1907 as against 140,000?. in 1906. It is doubtful whether the
number of flour mills started is not too large for the present need
of the country and during the year the amalgamation of some of the
bigger concerns was proposed. So far, however, the negotiations
do not appear to have proved successful.
Imports of cement.—If there had been any doubt about the extent
of the industrial activity during 1907 it would be laid at rest by a
glance at the cement and brick figures.
For years past the imported cement lias been practically a
negligible quantity, the native factories, of...”
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“...japan.
27
Still, when these totals are compared with the German amount
of 567,800?., it becomes fairly clear that the palmy days of Indian
indigo are gone, never to return.' ^
Imports of paper.—As in previous years Japan purchased large
amounts of foreign paper, in spite of the increased production of her
own paper mills. The principal gains were made by printing and
packing papers.
Germany still heads the list with over 250,000?., while Austria-
Hungary (136,000?.), the United Kingdom (129,000?.) and Belgium
(116,000?.) are the other leading suppliers.
Import of manures.—The increase in the import of manures was
very large, amounting as it did to 1,012,200?., or over 34 per cent.
From the detailed figures which are given in Annex 1 it will be
seen that every item enumerated, with the exception of animal bones,
showed a considerable advance, the principal gains being made by
oil cake and ammonium sulphate.
I have not included the nitrate of soda figures because, as far
as I can learn...”
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“...250,000?.
annually, while sulphur and petroleum amount to about another
400,000?., the output of the latter not being enough to supply more
than one-third of the home demand.
The seas surrounding her shores are full of fish and seaweeds,
and the export of marine produce to China is large and promising,
but even taking these various items into consideration it is clear
that any great advance in Japan's productive capacity must come
in her manufactured goods, mostly, of course, from the large
mills and factories which during the past 18 months have been
springing up all over the country, but also to a certain extent
from those articles which are produced by the members of
a family working together in their own house, of which one may take
such industries as match-making, mat-weaving and straw-plaiting
as examples.
With her cheap labour, an advantage which may soon disappear,
and plentiful coal and water, Japan is veiy favourably situated for
all sorts of undertakings.
£
Refined sugar...”
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“...tons, while in 1906 the crop was over 77,000 tons, and although
in 1907 the weather was unfavourable the amount produced exceeded
62,000 tons.
The Formosan authorities expect that the area under sugar
cultivation will in the future be almost doubled, and with more
attention paid to fertilising and ploughing it is hoped that the yield
per acre will also largely increase.
Kepresentatives of various interests have visited the island,
with the result that apart from Glasgow sugar machinery in the mills,
there are also British steam boilers and one set of Leeds steam ploughs
at work. The satisfactory results obtained will probably lead to
further orders.
Export of cotton yam.—The year has been on the whole a dis-
appointing one for spinners, in spite of the fact that nearly all the
leading companies paid good dividends. The home demand grew,
but there was a falling-off in the amount exported to China, and
this in face of the increase in spindles during the year Was very
unsatisfactory.
The...”
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“...of the total trade,
while last year their share was only reduced by a small amount,
remaining at 86-5 per cent., their proportion of the imports being
87 per cent, and exports 86 per cent. Moji is coming up fast and is
now a long way ahead of Nagasaki. Two other ports which have
shown considerable increases during the past year are Yokkaichi
and Tsuruga. The former taps a most important industrial district
which has Nagoya for its centre, and, being situated near the large
spinning and weaving mills of the Miye Company, it is not surprising
to find raw cotton amongst its principal imports and cotton tissues
and yarn at the head of its exports.
The port of Atsuta, near Nagoya, was, however, opened to foreign
trade in November last under the name of Nagoya Harbour, and
it is not unlikely that a great part of Yokkaichi trade will be diverted
to this new channel. Foreign steamship companies, however, think
Nagoya Harbour will not be suitable and are arranging to call
regularly at Yokkaichi....”
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“...and that in time she will be able not only to supply most
of her own wants but also to drive European and American manu-
facturers out of the Far Eastern markets.
Observers are led to this conclusion on finding that Japan has
large coal mines and a great number of waterfalls which will in time
to come be harnessed, and a plentiful supply of cheap labour.
Coal she undoubtedly has in considerable quantities, but the
prices have risen so much of late years that the costs of production
for those mills which require to use a great deal of it have grown
to an unthought-of extent, and unless mine owners reduce their
prices this one factor alone must have a serious effect on Japanese
industries. Coal which in 1903 cost about lis. 5d. a ton had increased
to between 13s. and 14s. in 1906 and 1907.
But even more important than coal is the labour question, and
it will not be out of place therefore to devote a few lines to the
subject.
Japanese labour has undoubtedly been cheap in the past, the
average...”
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“...have been advocating the necessity of introducing
some measure under which the large mills now springing up in various
parts of the country could be controlled.
The conditions of labour in Japan have called forth strong
comments from some British observers, but the worst cases are to
be found in the small household industries, such as match-making
&c., rather than in the big concerns, and unfortunately it is probably
only to the latter that any legislation which may be introduced
would apply.
From my own observation I can state that in many of the large
mills I have visited, the operatives seem generally healthy and
contented. It is often remarked that Japanese work long
hours. This is true, the average time being 10 hours per diem, not
including the time set apart for meals.
In most of the old-fashioned concerns there are two days of
rest a month, on the 1st and 15th, but in many of the new and large
mills a holiday is taken either every 7 or 10 days, and this enables
the day and night...”
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