EASTERN TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1935, Page 6

EASTERN TRADE

LIKELY CHANGES IN PACIFIC WELLINGTON, July 9The economical and political forces at play in the Pacific and particularly in the Far East were discussed by Air Edward C. Carter, Secretary-General of the Institute of Pacific Relations. “We have no idea what the changes either in 'Europe or Asia will do to the United Kingdom, the overseas Dominions, or any one of the Pacific countries/’ said Mr Carter. “All. that we do know, and probably in New Zealand it is harder to realise than almost in .ajpy, .other country ifi the world, is that the most persistent and striking factor of tlic present age is change, and so when you find China and Japan ai;e on your doorstep, when you find 'Soviet Russia, whether you like or* bate it, a factor in the trade of at least five of the seven seas, when you realise what these new ' nationalist economics are doing to the old trade routes, there is no line which anyone can take except to resolve to study the situation.”

After referring to what had been achieved in Japan, with particular mention of the amazing success attained by 11 Japan in dedicating the machine to -the task of raising the standard of living of the people, he dealt with the transformation taking place in China, which, he said, was emerging from her old feudal organisation into a modern state. The movement there was slower than in Jap-

The mass of population was vastly greater and, of course, the beginning of a modern era had not started quickly in China.

Nevertheless, China, too, had struck her tents and was on the march towards the use oi the machin e , for better or for worse, to advance the position of her innumerable millions. It had been necessary for him ifor several years to go to China a number of times, and the contrasts of one year with another were very striking.

The average hard-bitten Shang-hai-minded Englishman and American businessmen who had lived twenty or thirty years there, until recently and been very pessimistic as to China’s capacity to put her house in order, but somehow or other the present Government at long last had started the unification of China. Woollen mills had been organised almost overnight. There wese now fifteen mills and there was reason for believing the increase in China’s importation of wool in 1934 over 1933 would probably be followed by a further increase this year.

Another factor in the Pacific was Soviet Russia, said Air Carter. 0 11 C of the most fascinating dramas of our time was the way in which the Soviet were developing the Far Eastern Republic of the Soviet Union. If one travelled through the Volga and through Siberia towards Vladivostock, lie was almost' sure to see on the railway sidings or passing him great immigrant trains. That thrust of the immigrants across 'Siberia was no more hostile in intent to the Far East that the thrust into the Pacific or towards the shores of the Pacific of the anchors of the people of New Zealand and bis ancestors.