JAPAN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9653, 9 July 1919, Page 3

JAPAN

NEW AMD OLD.

A new national baby named Japan was born, in 1868; The baby's growth, jn 50 years has been, remarkable —:there is little in its conduct .that is not entirely creditable. Marquis Ito was the man Avho helped Japan to find her feet. Four times Prime Minister, he effected great .political, reforms, and fostered that military and industrial development which has placed Japan among the world powers. Soon after 1868 the institutions and customs of old Japan were scrapped. Japan went to western schools, and learned quickly. Western teachers were welcomed, western laws were codified, western institutions were copied.

In 1889 a new constitution was promulgated ; in 1891 the .first Parliament was summoned. The system is bicameral; the executive authority rests with Emperor and Cabinet. The House of Peers consists 1 of dukes, lower rank nobles, and .high-rated taxpayers.. The 369 members of the House of Representatives are elected for four years, and are 1 paid. Voting is by secret ballot, and electors are males over 25, paying not less in taxes than 10 yen a year. One yen js equal ■to one florin.

Japan is proud of her army. It is based on, the best European models, with a- peace strength of 230,000. In war time it expands to 1,250,000. All men are liable for service from 17 to 40. The last war budget was £10,500,----000. She also builds' and equips her own warships. The latest returns show that she has 10 Dreadnoughts, 13 pre-Dreadnoughts, 12 armoured cruisers, 12 protected cruisers, 5 torpedo gunboats, SO destroyers, 26 torpedo boats, 18 submarines. But Japan's military and naval achievements are greater than her equipment. In 1894 she had a victorious war with China; Russia, Germany, and France robbed her of the fruits. Then came the Avar with Russia. As a result there was transferred to Japan Port Arthur and the Liaotung Peninsula. Korea and Formosa, passed under Japan's protection, and both have benefited in consequence. In the late war Japan aided the Allies by policing the Indian and Pacific Oceans, patrolling the Mediterranean, and watching their interests in Vladivostock.

More valuable as a national asset, however, is Japan's zeal for education. Her Government system, rural and urban, is, despite many an imperfection, proving most serviceable It is largely a piece of patchwork. Bits have been borrowed from Britain, France, Germany, and America. It is an inevitable consequence of the laudable haste Japan, is displaying to make up on the nations that were at school while she was asleep. Japan insists that every child, prince or peasant, from 6 to 14, shall attend school. Education is compulsory and free mostly. Technical' and industrial education is stressed; there are special schools for both. Four imperial universities have a staff of 865 and a roll of 9511. Iv the normal schools there are 18,000 men and 8000 women. These represent only 30 per cent, of those seeking admission. In the capital city of Tokio there are nearly 600 schools; there are 35,000 students of university grade. Tokio is the greatest educational centre in the world.

Japan's schools and colleges contain 8,000,000 future subjects. They make excellent pupils. Centuries of feudal subjection have created in them an instinctive docility to authority. The nation's traditions frown upon insubordination. Probably most significant of all are the many highly advanced girls' schools. These are doing a great, silent work which will express itself in the mothers and children of future Japan. But it is in her economic relations with other nations' that Japan attracts most attention. Her own economic problems are acute. Her food problem is serious and permanent. Except Germany, Japan is the most prolific nation of modern times, despite- the fact that her death rate exceeds that of any country where vital statistics arc recorded. Agriculture is her chief industry; 63 per cent, of her people engage in it. Rice is her chief .product; onefifth of the taxable land is devoted to it.

Great economic changes are in progress and in prospect. Industries are increasing enormously. One result id a great gravitation of rural population towards the cities. Japan is passing through an experience to which the industrial revolution of England is the historical equivalent. For centuries Japan was a land of small employers of household production. Osaka is the great industrial centre of Japan. Fifty years ago it did not contain one modern machine. To-day there are 7000 factories making every article conceivable. , Factories are rising like mushrooms-: Agents are scouring the country _to persuade girls to work in the city/4actories. where already the proportion is 31 girls to 19 men. There are excellent labour laws, but wages in textiles are 2s 6d, in knitted goods 3s per day oi 13 hours. There is much in- Japan s transformation to' regret. She Has been a land of arts and crafts. Artisan and artist' were synonymous. The only wealth the father bestowed upon the son was the secret of Ins craft. Ino factory system makes millionaires—and mechanics. The manufacturer wants a fortune in a hurry. Jsipanis snrrendering to the temptation. Lne win o-ave her her opportunity. ' During the early period her prosperity exceeded that of any other conuirv. She amassed great wealth, paid off her national debt, and trausI'ormod herself from a debtor to a creditor nation. The first three years saw a great export and shipping development. Her foreign trade in 1910 broke all records. Over the 7500 miles of her nationalised railways there was an enormous expansion of internal trade. Electricity is everywhere; even in tiny villages, because so much water is available. The Jap. makes an ex■ellent worker. No human hand is so :ridnstrious and dexterous as his hand. With .energy and persistency Japar <s buttinsc into the markets of the ■vorld and into the councils of tho ?owers. Commercially she is succeed 'ng to the place of Germany. Chv Vnsfci-iilian children are now play'iv

-itli Japanese instead of Gcrmnn toy^ Tnnan's exnort in toys runs to sev^rn 1 -illions. The popular sneer is tfi»' Tnpanoso poods are jerry soods. Bu •l»o is cnpnWe of crreater things. The world's chief r^ed jnst now i •iiios. Jnnan can build a million to^ • year. Her ocean line leav o'tbinq; to bo desired in elep<i"p e ar" -MTifrr*-,. Her con^t line allows r nlondH natural harbours. She hns ?'

„r . ro steamship romnnmos, 15 "f £!•"- :ubsidi?ed. The .-chief idea in her slir

*ning programme is the maintenance of erVacifc trade, which is necessary ; to licr national existence, since she, like England, must import, vast quante of lood and other commodities. fane needs a vast amount or raw material for her manufactures;. she needs a arge market for the things, she manufactures Her ambition is to be a Seat military, industrial, and commercial nation. Is there any reason why Sllttstcle? a mental habit a^ong the nations to see something sinister in everything Japan does .nowadays. America is the nation with, which Japan lias had most communication. Until the Russian .war the relations were most cordial. Since then it is not untrue-to say that it has been _m. stilled into the minds of American children that Japan is essentially, an. enemy. The wildest' yams have circulated as to Japan's warlike intentions. Yet in her international relations, Japan's actions refute the suspicions. Everywhere she has .honoured her " scraps of paper." Slid has even disclaimed the use of scraps of paper. Her word has been her sufficient bond. Fifteen years ago Japan's emigration to America was so great that organised labour grew alarmed. Government action was demanded. Japan said it was unnecessary to pass any invidious legislation. They would enter into, a "gentleman's agreement" that America would no longer be troubled:, 'they, would prevent- labour emigration to America. Next year the emigration was reduced to one-tenth of its former proportions, and the agreement has since been honourably kept. } Britain, too, has had her gentleman s agreement with Japan on important matters. Early in the war Germany besought Japan to join her. Japan rejected the proposal with much contempt and without loss of time.. Such incidents might prompt t.ho nations to recognise and respect some of the higher qualities of Japan. . But, even, if the political charge Fail, most people are satisfied that in trade the Japanese is a trickster. This libel nartakes of the qualities of the boomerang. Till 50 years ago trade was contemptible- in the- sight of the Japanese noble. When he turned to trade he learned many ignoble ways. From whom could he have learned them ? The first European traders in Japan may not have boon models of modern commercial morality. It is fashionable to say the- Jitp. is purely imitative. Well, he has probably imitated his commercial morality. The traders he met illustrated the maxim, "Do others, or they will do you." The Jap. may be excused if he thought that was how to do business. Now when he brings to Western markets the methods learned from Western, masters it ill becomes us to blame him over much. But. just as he learned- the wrong, he will learn the right. His commercial morality is growing. He has to figlit against the feudal tradition that lying in a, good cause is perfectly honourable. Enemy business men repeat the familiar tale that in dealing with the Jap. first consignments are .up to sample, second arc, worse, third are worse. The Jan. does not yet realise that is not good business. Commercial life .will teach him a- different kind of morality. He will find that it pays to lie honest; that without n reputation for honesty-liis business will languish. He will Irani these tilings in time, unless ho is a fool. -And a fool he -vrtainly is not.