JAPANESE TRADING

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21084, 8 February 1934, Page 6

JAPANESE TRADING

TO TUB EDITOR Olr THZ PBE.jS. Sir,—A week or two ago I was privileged to occupy space in your correspondence columns for two letters on the above subject, which were replied to by a correspondent who signed his matter "Excalibur." He was all Tor defending the Japanese manufacturers and very carefully side-stepped my main argument, which was as follows (I hope you do not mind repeating it for me): I said that as soon as a fresh design was produced in England it was promptly sent to Japan by merchants of British nationality, who asked for it to be copied; the forgeries were then retailed at about a third of the British production costs. I further expressed the opinion that the man who thus deliberately assisted to murder (that is the only word that will fit the case) British industries was in the same class as a- man who hawked confidential information to an enemy in war time. . . I hope that "Excalibur" is still in Christchurch, as I would like his opinion of the agents mentioned in the cable message ta-day when it is placed alongside the report of the speech of Mr GoodJellow concerning New Zealand's future in the British market for her primary produce. Mr Creenwall's cable says, "I have the fullest proof of this assertion. There are Australian and New York importers picking up samples of fancy goods and they will take them to Japan and have the copies made." I have been informed that certain Japanese manufacturers have threatened, if there is any serious action taken, to publish the names of the importers who have seduced them from the straight and narrow path. Personally, I hope they keep their promise. As a good New Sealander I believe In supporting our own industries first, British next, and the Empire all the time. Incidentally, I would not be in the least surprised if the list oi business men included one or two of the type which figures in the obituary notices as "the well-known philanthropist" or "the popular sportsman, or to learn that "he made many munificent donations to the church, e.c a form of fire insurance wnich is tatteri out by many retired business men who have developed a conscience late in life. One thing is sure: tariffs will not stop this Japanese invasion. It is up to the Government. By permitting the stuff to pour into the country they are assisting in impoverishing the people who have, willy nilly, to bear the greatest part of the burden of protecting us and Australia, and naturally they are ruining the best customers that the producers of this country ever had or will have. The agents in New Zealand of the British manufacturers who are being robbed in this way should have no hesitation in exposing the importers who are conniving at the robbery. Many oi them are known already. What says -Excalibur?»-Yours. etc.. BAGLAN> February 7, 1934.