JAPAN’S POPULATION

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 203, 25 May 1938, Page 13

JAPAN’S POPULATION

Growth Of 50,000,000 Within Memory

FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM

“Since Commodore Peary came over

to our country and opened her trade

and intercourse with other countries, about 80 years ago, education, Indus'

try, commerce and all other develop-

ments have grown rapidly, and our population has reached 80 millions—

an increase from 30 millions as it was in my boyhood,” said Mr. Kuchi Gunji, Consul-General for Japan in New Zealand, in telling members of the Wellington Travel Club yesterday about, his country's relations with other countries of the Pacific Ocean. “Now, Japan’s .greatest and fundamental problem is how to maintain this ever-increasing population. We have tried to emigrate, but this has been possible to only a small and ineffective extent Then we were forced to the conclusion that we should establish highly-developed industries to keep our population and afford work for our teeming millions, thus avoiding serious social problems. In order to develop our industries we must buy raw materials from foreign countries, especially those in the Pacific, and sell the manufactured goods in foreign markets. ' -The more our industries develop, the more we must buy. As a matter of fact, we are now buying huge amount of cotton from India and America, wool from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, rubber from the Dutch East Indies and Singapore iron ore and bauxite from British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, oil amounts of cotton from India and America, various fish from the South Sea Islands, and manila hemp from the Philippines.. . "If you consider these basic matters in Japan you will probably quite easily understand our internal problems, our international situation and more especially our international economic situation in the Pacific. I. am sure we could work together in friendly co-operation, economically and politically. If we could have frank discussion in personal contact we could have a much better understanding with all nations.” Mr. Gunji pointed out that when New Zealand was celebrating its centennial the Japanese Empire would have been established 2600 years. His country offered many delights to the visitor, he said, a great many things remaining unchanged after centuries to enchant people from overseas. In addition to picturesque rural life and natural scenery there were huge busy cities and up-to-date hotels. The amity between Japan and New Zealand had existed 55 years, since the first visit by a Japanese warship to New Zealand. His mission chiefly aimed at the maintenance of friendship and mutual understanding, not, only politically and economically, but also socially and culturally, and he eagerly desired to achieve that object.