THE WILY JAPANESE.

Mataura Ensign, 20 March 1909, Page 6

THE WILY JAPANESE.

It, will be remembered (says the 'New Zealand Times') that when a lleet of Japanese warships was in Wellington its sailors were keen on acquiring am" goods that typictid the industries of the Dominion. A very largo number of NewZealand travelling rugs, for the manufacture of which this Dominion is famed, wcr ebought bv officers and men on the lleet. Mr Charles CTeveley, formerly of Wellington but now of Kobe, writing to a friend in this citv explains the destiny of sonic of these ruge. He sacs: "Fortunately I have a connection with the wool industry, and it has been part of uiy business lo watch any development which might lead to aii extension of the wool trade between this rapidly-expanding country and Now Zealand. Japanese, sailors who visited New Zealand eahc seem to have roturned with a sample of n New Zealand rug. Almost immediately after the xoturu of Admiral Kaminmra's lleet to Japanese waters there were an enormous number of advertisements in the Japanese papers asking for New Zealand all-wool rugs. Advertisers offered at least thrico the retail price for these rugs, with the result that sailors cleared their stock'; at a handsome profit. But you will be nioro interested in the ultimate result. I have discovered that, these rugs were bought by woollen manufacturers in all parts of both islands. They have been most, carefully analysed in everv way known to the imitative .science of our clever allies, the result being that many manufacturers in Japan are now turning out rugs that aro (at least as far as appearance goes) an exact imitation of the best New Zealand goods. The needs of the average Japanese are exceedingly simple, but he is particularly partial to a warm night covering. The result is that there is already a large business in these rugs in .Japan and the merchants are trving bard to get a big trade going in Europe."