JAPAN’S DIFFICULTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4460, 30 January 1917, Page 3

JAPAN’S DIFFICULTY.

BUYING AFRICAN WOOL

The Japanese woollen mill workers are taxing their brains very hard for the solution of the wool supply question, now that Great Britain lias completed her purchase of the crops in Australia and New Zealand (states the Japan Times). In the hope that great Britain may show another proof of her friendliness toward her ally in the least they have requested the Government to approach Great .Britain with a request to part with a portion of the crops requisitioned by her, though according to a report of the Japanese Consul-General at Sydney the British woollen mill workers have influenced their Government to take this stringent measure.

'Some of them in the meanwhile are trying to solve the problem by purchasing the crops in South Africa. Alrea_ dy some importers in Osaka have got into communication with African sellers. and samples are in their hands. If they can agree as to prices and other conditions, African wool may be imported with ease now that Japanese liners on the European rout call at Capetown. The only trouble is, according to a report to hand, that American, Italian and French buyers have already commenced their purchases there and caused the sellers to be chary of selling. In these circumstances prices at present are strikingly high there. Apparently negotiations have come to a deadlock between Japanese buyers and African sellers principally on that score.