TRADE WITH THE EAST.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9314, 15 January 1896, Page 5

TRADE WITH THE EAST.

THE COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Press Association—B; Telegraph—Copyright. Port Darwin, January 14. Mr Parsons, the Commissioner from South Australia, who visited the East in the interests of the colony's trade, reports that the volume of the Australian trade with the far East depends upon the approximation of freights from Australia to those ruling from San Francisco and Vancouver. In Japan's capital there are abundant proposals for new undertakings and the nation shows a quickness and deftness which augur success. Mr Parsons was appointed to represent the Eastern and Australian Trading Company, which with a capital of £200,000 was' recently formed in Hongkong for the purpose of developing the Australian trade. Any trade with the East, he says, will only result where quality of the goods and taste in packages are combined. One thing that Australia can be sure of is that she need not fear the influ_ of Japanese labour, as the requirements for the Home industries and the development of Formosa absorb all the skilled and many unskilledmen. The wages there thisy§ar are from 10 to 20 per cent, higher than last, and will continue to increase. The only surplus labour is that of women and girls, and that is unexportable. Japanese coolies can be obtained, but the rate of hire is much higher than for Pacific Islanders or Indian coolies, and too high for sugar growing in Australia. Mr Parsons adds that they can come to Australia now, but do not and will not come in large numbers.