INTERVIEW WITH M. HARRIS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11130, 23 November 1901, Page 7

INTERVIEW WITH M. HARRIS.

(BY OITB SPKOIAI. BBPOBT**.) Mr M. Harris, of Cttbristehurch, vthv has been on an extended tour of Japan, America, and , England, returned to Obristchtnoh yesterday morning. In the course, of an interview with a : representative of "The Press," 3lr Hams eaad he left New Zealand on February Bth lest for Sydney, from thence journeying to Thursday Island, Port "Darwin, Timor, Manila, Hongkong. Shanghai, Nagasaki, and Kobe. After a stay in the land of tha Mikado, Mr Harrie left Yokohama for Honolulu, then on to San "Francisco. Ha visited Niagara, Boston, New York, and crossing the Atlantic spent a pleasant three months in London, returning to New Zealand via Australia. While in tlie United States Air Harris visited the Buffalo Exhibition, and was disappointed. He though* the buildings very fine indeed, and the exhibition of electricity and its uses probably the finest tie world has seen. The side-shows were also good, and some marvellous motor-cars were to be seen, but to his mind the general exhibits, as a display, were a failure. Mr Harris was at Buffalo before the assasaina.tion of President McKinley shocked the world.

"And how did Japan—that land of wonders and rapid progress—strike you? -.

- "Well," Mr Harris replied, "I have been there oh several previous occasions, and I always thought more of its future as a great industrial country than I did when I came away this time. I don't think now that Japan "will ever be a. serious competitor us a manufacturing country in the /world's markets. Wages have gone up enormously there, and the cost of living has become very much higher. I think, that Japan hae gone ahead so much and) progressed in western ways so rapidly that shs will not be able to keep it up. Customs duties are very high, and the Government has been spending money very freely. It is ditiioult-"to see how the present rate of things can be kept up. "It is a pleasant enough country for tourists to visit, for one sees things that are different to what is found anywhere else in the world. But I have visited Japan five or six times nowy and I may see changes more quickly than people who have not been there so often or have lived there altogether. In eight years, for instance, the cost of living has more than doubled,"

"Did you notice any material change in the people and in their manners?' "Yes," Mr Harris said.- "Eight years ago in the cities almost everyone wore the native costume, and it was a. rare exception to see a Jap wearing leather boots. •Now it is quite the other way about; the people affect European styles of clothing very nuioh.—in fact, to my mind, they are aping western ways too much." Referring to Ills stay in London, Mr Harris said he found New Zealand more talked about and much, more favourably held in estimation since the outbreak of the' South African war. The country seemed to be now pretty generally known as a place that had a standing and geographical position of its own, instead of being bundled* up with Australia and the Cape in the hazy way of' old. Speaking of trade prospects and new markets, Mr Harris considered that Manila might be a vary excellent outlet "for New Zealand produce, only that America practically barred the way. He liadTnever seen any place make such remarkable advancement and progress' as Manila; lie had been there several times, and could speak with some authority. Hβ did not think Japan would ever be an outlet worth seriously considering,, as it was onoe thought would be the case. For one reason, Japan was only about sixteen days from San Francisco, and the journey could not be made from New Zealand under aboulj forty days. At the same time he admitted that the steamers from Australia took a good deal of produce to Japan. "Japanese territory very much resembles New Zealand in its volcanic formation. The country is, however, -very .highly cultivated," said Mt Harris, reverting again to Japan. "This, of coyrse, ; becomes necessary when the population numbers something like 48,000,000. 1 don't think any country conserves its water better, lifting it ito the otherwise barren hilltops with water-wheels where reservoirs are built, and letting it down from, paddock to poddtock as required, little clay fences separating each terrace. The rivers, too, are in formation like our own,'but the people control them from their sources by means of-walls and aqueducts. Here, the rivers control .us, and take as niuch country as they please. "I was through a great part of Australia on my return journey this time, and visited Fremantl© again for the -first time in. forty-seven years. It has grown and altered so that places I was quite familiar with as a youngster I could hot pick up at all."