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![](http://digital.soas.ac.uk/content/LO/AC/00/00/66/00622/00009thm.jpg) |
“...trifling and only amounts to about one-quarter of 1 per cent,
of the total imports.
There has been talk at times of commencing cotton cultivation
on a large scale in Formosa, but nothing appears to have come of it,
and whereas China formerly used to supply Japan with a fair pro-
portion of her requirements, the amount has been gradually getting
less, and in view of the expansion of the Chinese spinning industry,
the tendency is against any return to the former figures. It is only
a few of the mills that spin fine counts which purchase Egyptian
cotton, so that it is clear that the bulk of the business must continue
to be divided year by year between India and America, the propor-
tion between the two only varying as special conditions tempt or
compel spinners to replace certain grades of the one by similar grades
of the other. Thus present indications point to a smaller consumption...”
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![](http://digital.soas.ac.uk/content/LO/AC/00/00/66/00622/00010thm.jpg) |
“...JAPAN.
11
of American cotton in 1914, because the sudden rise in the autumn
of 1913 found many of the mills ill supplied, and orders under present
prices are likely to be restricted in view of the low quotations of
Indian cotton.
The following table shows the exact figures for 1912-13 :—
Imports of Cotton (Raw).
Country.
1913.
Tons. £ Tons. £
India...... 190,430 11,093,700 238,361 14,601,900
United States 111,442 6,594,700 102,385 6,555,800
China...... 39,145 1,928,200 34,241 1,684,900
Egypt...... 6,902 605,900 7,410 636,500
Other countries 13,791 278,200 16,548 367,500
Total ...... 361,710 20,500,700 398,945 23,846,600
Imports of cotton yams.—This item calls for little comment. The
domestic industry has practically killed the chances of ordinary
counts, and the imports, which amount to about 50,000/., consist
only of special counts which are not yet spun in this country and which
can, therefore, surmount the tariff wall.
Imports of cotton textiles.—It was stated in last year's...”
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![](http://digital.soas.ac.uk/content/LO/AC/00/00/66/00622/00011thm.jpg) |
“...extensions on what has for the moment proved to
be too vast a scale. Throughout the year the prices of inousseline
have been on the downward grade, and consequently attempts have
been made to curtail production, but it is only just lately that it has
proved possible to get the mills to agree to joint action. Most of the
mousseline which goes into consumption is dyed or printed.
Imports of woollen and worsted yams.—The increase in worsted
yarns is very marked. In 1911 the import amounted to 3,447,000 lbs.,
valued at 476,0002., in 1912 the figures had risen to 6,752,000 lbs.
and 850,3002., and in 1913 thev were no less than 7,312,000 lbs. and
1,029,7002.
The chief users of these yarns are those of the mousseline mills,
which have not enough spindles to spin all their requirements, the hand
weavers of mousseline and a few of the weavers in the silk districts,
1911
1912
1913
Imports.
Square Yards.
7,770.000
2,600,000
580,000...”
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![](http://digital.soas.ac.uk/content/LO/AC/00/00/66/00622/00026thm.jpg) |
“...which is more than double the amount
purchased in 1912 ; this came mostly from China, and there was a
large falling-off in the quantity imported from Australia. Essential
oils accounted for 100,0002. ; copra and cocoanut oil were on about
the same level as in the preceding year, the figures being 45.0002.
and 15,0002. respectively.
With regard to bean oil, the soya beans are imported from Man-
churia, and the bulk of the oil which is produced in Japan is
" expressed," but there are now a few mills in this country which
are obtaining their oil by extracting it by means of a benzine solvent.
A company was recently started near Osaka with a view to split-
ting oils and deodorising them, but it is not said to have met with
any great success, and although there has been talk of the introduction
of fat-hardening processes by means of hydrogen, it is difficult to
obtain any accurate information.
• Imports of dyes and paints.—In the dye and paint class there has
been an increase of 137,0002....”
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![](http://digital.soas.ac.uk/content/LO/AC/00/00/66/00622/00028thm.jpg) |
“...position to
manufacture most of her own requirements, with the exception of the
best qualities. Many of the mills have either ordered fresh machinery
or are planning extensions, and although at the present moment the
demand has not yet overtaken supply, it is hoped, with the continued
spread of education in Japan itself, and particularly in Japan's
dependencies like Formosa and Corea, that the increased output
will be readily absorbed.
Imports of rubber and rubber industry.—The imports of raw rubber
advanced from about 900 to 1,200 tons.
Although the cost of materials has been considerably lower during
the period under review than during any previous 12 months since
the Japanese first undertook the manufacture of rubber goods, the
manufacturers have not appeared to benefit bv the lower cost of
materials. The demand for rubber manufactures appear to be more
than met by the mills already in existence and competition in sales
has been exceedingly keen.
The net results have not been satisfactory...”
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![](http://digital.soas.ac.uk/content/LO/AC/00/00/66/00622/00032thm.jpg) |
“...
In silks other than habutse there was an advance in taffetas,
chiffon and crapes, and in handkerchiefs, thanks to larger purchases
by the United Kingdom aild America, a small gain was registered.
Exports of cotton yarn.—Cotton spinners have again had a good
year, and the exports to China show a very large increase. It is a
question, however, whether the expansion of cotton mills in Japan
has not been overdone in view of the fact that the domestic demand
is nothing like big enough to account for more than a portion of the
production. If, as is anticipated, the duties in China are increased on
yarns, and the mills in China, several of which are Japanese-owned,
continue to develop, the demand for Japanese yarns may be seriously
curtailed. For the present, however, business has been satisfactory
enough. The total exports amounted to 181,401,000 lbs., valued at
7,247,600?., compared with 141,559,000 lbs. and 5,480,000?. in 1912.
Of this sum no less than 7,074,200?. was accounted for by China...”
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![](http://digital.soas.ac.uk/content/LO/AC/00/00/66/00622/00033thm.jpg) |
“...34
■JAPAN.
It will be noticed that there has been a large increase in the cost
of coal of about 29 per cent., but wages have only made a slight advance.
The factory law has not yet been enforced, and although conditions
in the mills are gradually improving and are quite good in the case of
some of the best companies, there is little doubt tha.t in others the
cramped sleeping accommodation and the long hours tend to sap the
health of the female operatives, and it is high time that steps were
taken to ameliorate a state of affairs which cannot but be detrimental
to the future mothers of Japan.
Exports of cotton textiles.—The export of cotton textiles continues
to show a large increase, and nearly every class of goods has shared
in the advance. With the exception of twills, of which about 20,000/.
worth went to India, it may be said that, as in the case of yarns,
practically the whole export goes to China, Corea, Kwantung province
and Hong-Kong. Grey shirtings remain the most important...”
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![](http://digital.soas.ac.uk/content/LO/AC/00/00/66/00622/00043thm.jpg) |
“...two countries
goes on growing year by year, and is now 16,966,4002., or more than
three times as much as the annual average for the years 1893-95,
when the first serious changes were made in the tariffs, and 1,854,2092.,
or 12 per cent, larger than in 1911, when the second and latest revision
took place.
As regards trade between the United Kingdom and Formosa,
the most striking features are the great falling-off in sugar machinery,
the imports of which are gradually ceasing, as the island's mills get
more fully equipped, and the increase in the exports of Oolong tea to
* Figures for Ireland are not given separately....”
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![](http://digital.soas.ac.uk/content/LO/AC/00/00/66/00622/00047thm.jpg) |
“...... 3-7 4-4
Yokohama, as was only natural in a year when silk increased so much
was easily able to retain its lead. Kobe and Osaka benefited a great
dca! from the large imports of cotton and from the renewed business with
China, while the coal ports, such as Moji, Karatsu, Miilce and Muroran, all
shared in the boom in the coal trade. Yokkaichi and Nagoya, which
both tap the industrial district which has the latter town for its centre,
have made considerable progress, as the cotton and other mills situated
in the neighbourhood have increased their purchases during the past
year..
Ail the four Hokkaido ports have done well, but Otaru, thanks to
large lumber shipments, still manages to keep ahead of Hakodate....”
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