JAPAN AND THE WOOL TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1086, 27 March 1911, Page 8

JAPAN AND THE WOOL TRADE.

. " MAKING GREAT STRIDES. "llucli speculation exists • naturally amongst woolmoh "as to how the new Japanese duties', on wool will affect tho wool trade of the world (says the "Pastoralists' Review"). , The Japanese have during the past. two decades become - a 'formidable factor in all manufacturing enterprises, on account of the cheap labour available, that any new move calculated to move the balance of trade is watched with the keenest interest.' That seme large developments are to bo expected is evident from the fact that recently the Japanese .have been" extensive woolbuyers in our local markets, and from the fact that in July next the new duties come into force. These will be of -such a character that in certain lines at least Bradford will have.to look to its laurels. l r or example, on ..all coatings tho duties range from 87 to 300 per cent; on meltons, made, partly of worsted yarn and partly of cotton, they' run -from 256 to 500 per cent; while' those'bh.'hiistnre army cloth range as high as G24 per/cent! '.'The Japanese are said to be making great strides with their mills, and they now claim to be able to make army cloths quite equal to those of Bradford, while in tho manufacture of the finer cloths they reckon to 'be able to secure a large proportion of future trade. This is, of course, a matter in which Australia is largely interested, .for,, at means that if Japan, after,•• providin* for its own consumption of woollens, sc*>!cs to exploit the rest of the world, particularly Asia, in which direction it will have ft laree pull over Great: Brihtin, and from its contiguity to Australia.'its purchases of wool should be made, almost exclusively there. This, may influence prices .very materially, proportionately the Australasian.' esriorts to Enrobe, which in turn may reSctMhrontjbnufc the world. China is already looked in as an important factor in this latest development, and altogether the results "f , tho Japanese descent upon nwltefs will be watched with keen interest."