HUNGRY MILLS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4834, 16 April 1936, Page 5

HUNGRY MILLS

JAPAN WANTS WOOL. \ ■ INCREASED BUYING IN N.Z. ! j MORE IN COMING YEARS. t i Japan’s intention of increasing hep purchases of New Zealand wool by 100 per cent, in the next two years was mentioned by Mr. K. Yoneda, si representative of Japanese importing interests, during his visit to Napier in connection with the loading of the Keifuku Maru, which is picking up a consignment of wool at New Plymouth.. i The Keifuku Maru’s visit will institute regular calls at coastal ports by Japanese vessels to lift wool. Next year special vessels' will visit such centres after every sale at which Japanese purchases are made, the object being to eliminate tranship7 ment costs. • j This year, said Mr.. Yoneda, Japan has purchased 60,0004 bales of wool in New Zealand, or twice as much as last year. Next seasons orders would total 100,000 bales, and the-following year Japanese buyers would require 120,000., , The increase in purchased Mr. Yon&ea explained was due, in a large measure, to the increasing “Westernisation” of Japan, as the suit of which more than 50 per cent, of the people were already dressed in European fashion. The demand for clothing kept many kept many woollen mills busy. The majority of such mills, he added, were controlled by the Government. In Tokio alone there were 100,000 people engaged in the woollen industry. Mr. Yoneda was anxious to correct what he termed the “entirely:. wrong impression; prevailing in most countries” as to wages’ paid-to lhduslrial operatives in Japan and their condi-' tions of work., yWomen, he- said, received 10d'daily:;: men" IS-7d,vbut they enjoyed .also the advantage] of , being housed in hostels attached 'to factories, while girls’ and boys’ colleges were provided for their children. Mr. Yoneda spoke hopefully of New Zealand’s chance of marketing finned meat in Japan. There were, he thought, great-possibilities of f Japan taking meat from. New. Zealand..- Experiments made in Japanese colleges had shown that since the introduction of meat as a regular food the average height of the students had increased by half an-inch. Mr. Yoneda,.said he was himself negotiating, during his visit to New Zealand for “ large consignments of tinned meat to be shipped to Japan.