TRADE WITH JAPAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 129, 3 June 1930, Page 5

TRADE WITH JAPAN.

SHIPPING LINE'S INQUIRY.

PROSPECTS DEEMED GOOD.

THREE VESSELS AVAILABLE,

"It is an ill wind that blows no one good," and tlie high tariffs that the Commonwealth Government has adopted in order to balance its budget may ha\ e the effect of at least bringing one line of steamers to New Zealand as a terminal port. This is the Osaka Shoshen Kaisha Line, which runs a regular monthly service between Japan and Australia.

The Australian representative of the company, Mr. J. Watanabe, arrived by the Maunganui this morning and he will spend some time in the Dominion investigating the prospects of the service. "I have -been in Australia for only three months," he said in an interview, "but I am convinced that the prospeet3 are good for trade develop.ment between Japan and New Zealand. Tariffs are high in Australia at present, while they are moderate in New Zea-

land, and that is an important factor in considering the establishment of ocean transport;*' Mr. Watanabe said" that his company had three new vessels, each of GOOO tonsj equipped with Diesel engines and capable of a speed of 16 knots. They were fitted with refrigerated space and could take a large quantity of frozen produce. The steamers were named the Sydney Maru, Brisbane Maru and Melbourne Maru. Mr. Watanabe said the trade between Japan and New Zealand was in favour of Japan last year, due largely to the drop in the price of the Dominion's primary produce, Japan imported goods to the value of £400,000 from New Zealand and exported goods to the value of £600,000. In some previous years the trade balance had been in favour of New Zealand. "Japan wijl buy your wool, casein, butter and cheese," said Mr. Watanabe, "and New Zealand should take our silks, oak, fancy and electrical goods."

"Yes, I think prosptcts are good," he added with a smile,."but I will know more by the time I reach Invercargill."