The Press. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1918. Trade with the Far East.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16119, 25 January 1918, Page 6

The Press. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1918. Trade with the Far East.

Our distinguished visitor, Dr. G. E. Morrison, in tho interesting speech - which he delivered before tho 2Cew. Zealand Club yesterday, : cleared away some misapprehensions regarding China, and made it apparent that wo in this part of the world are missing a great opportunity to open up trade relations with that new great Republic. Dr. Morrison gave very cogent reasons for believing that \ the republican form of government is now firmly established in China, although there may be some further constitutional changes for the purpose of adjusting the 'relative powers nnd positions of Parliament and the Executive. In time of war it is essential to give the Executive almost unlimited power. But many sound thinkers are of opinion that in Great Britain, as in Now Zealand and other self-governing parts of the Empire, Parliament has quiotly surrendered too much of it 6 power to the Esocutivc. China, determined to avoid this mistake, has perhaps gone too far in the oilier direction, but these questions will be-solved in time without much difficulty, and probably by the ■usual method of compromise, ' Dr. Morrison also showed, in tho most conclusivo manner, that British in'gefetoro have "unquestionable security of

the money they may have invested in Chinese Government loans 01: railways. Apart from this, it is an axiom with ail who have had to do business with the Far East that a Chinese merchant's word is his bond. "With such a huge country, and such an enormous population gradually becoming permeated with Western ideas, there should be great opportunities for trade. The mere fact that Germany has been ousted as a competitor offers an additional reason why we should endeavour to take advantage of those opportunities. We s;'em. however, to be singularly devoid of enterprise and imagination in this matter. It is no use waiting till after the war before we begin. That will be too late. We ought at least to establish a footing now. In this respect the Japanese have set us an excellent example. They are not only pushing their interests in China, but ihcy have sent their agents to tLc Dominion and Commonwealth, and are taking full advantage of the opportunities olfeied by the wai" lot* the extension of their trade. Dr. [Morrison

makes a very practical suggestion, namely, that the Chambers of Commerce should combine and send a keen, clear-headed business man to the Far

East to make enquiries as to the openings which exist for trade tfith New Zealand. "We hope the suggestion will bo adopted. We think it is far better than asking tho Government to send a Commissioner for tho purpose. That means delay, and in this case too much timo has already been lost.