MISSION LAPSES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20142, 11 January 1940, Page 2

MISSION LAPSES

TRADE WITH JAPAN EFFECT OF HOSTILITIES DELEGATES AS TOURISTS What was to have been a thorough investigation into the possibility of expanding Japanese trade with New Zealand has developed into a sightseeing tour for members of a delegation from the Far East who arrived at Dunedin on Sunday night and left on Monday for the Lakes and Mount Cook. The delegates are Messrs. G. Muranaka, T. Huzimoto, K. Hamai and R. Hurutani. In an interview they explained that the war had intervened to make fulfilment of their original plans impossible. Mr. Muranaka said that the iijea of a trade mission to Australia and New Zealancj dated back to June of last year, but before arrangements could be completed the war began. The mission, however, set out for Australia, but by the time it arrived in October the Commonwealth was so busy with the war that nothing could be accomplished. It had been feared from the first that the visit would produce no immediate results, but the Japanese interests represented by the delegation were taking a long view of the matter and were anxious to establish contacts that might be useful when international affairs settled clown once more.

“We came here to see what you have to sell and what you may want to buy.” Mr. Muranaka said, “but the war and the restriction of all kinds of imports have changed everything and we are just travelling for pleasure. Now we think that. trade between Japan and New Zealand can be increased considerably if only the two countries can come to a proper arrangement. Import restriction is a political matter and I do not know very much about it, but, like the war, it cannot last lor ever, and we all hope that both will soon be ended. As long as they continue we cannot talk together, and we have given up the idea in the meantime.”