IMPRESSIONS OF JAPAN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 58, 5 February 1938, Page 11

IMPRESSIONS OF JAPAN

ADDRESS TO LUNCH CLUB. MR A. HOPWOOD’S TOUR. “Impressions of Japan” was the subject of an interesting address given to the Palmerston North Citizens’ Lunch Club yesterday by Mr A. Hopwood, who recently returned from a visit to that country. Mr A. Seifert presided over a large attendance and welcomed ns visitors Messrs A. F. Worboys (Palmerston North) and A. McDonald (Auckland). Mr Hopwood said that the first thing which struck him in Japan was the measure of economy practised on every hand. In all the cities the womenfolk went about picking up bits of tin and scrap metal, while to find old tins in rubbish dumps was an un-heard-of thing. Not a piece of paper was wasted; it was sold again to make paper pulp. Many people had a false impression of Japan and the Japanese; they were a really great nation, with vast problems. When it was considered that the average increase in population was 90,000 a year, one of those problems could be understood. The, people, from the highest to the lowest, were wonderful workers, and it was very noticeable that all tile members of each family did tlieir share. ‘One could not help but get the impression that the people were happy and there was no “sweated” labour as was generally thought. The speaker traced briefly the history of Japan, stating that it was not until the Russo-Japanese war . in 1904 that she was regarded in any sense as a Power. Since then she had never eased up and to-day she was a formidable force on land, in the air, and on the sea. Mr Hopwood dealt only briefly with the war aspect, but went on to say that the people were definitely not war-minded; nor were they all out fqr industry. The Japanese were great great lovers of art and their works were wonderful, the silk-worked pictures, several of which the speaker exhibited, being particularly outstanding. The temples and the shrines were marvellous buildings and one seemed never to get tired of looking over them.

Mr Hopwood brought back many interesting specimens -of Japanese work and these were handed round during the address.

The long-tailed fowls of Japan were wonderful birds, which really had to be seen to be believed, the speaker added. It was not unusual to see a bird with a tail 24ft. long, and when it was being exercised a boy was emploved to carry the tail. The chief food in Japan was, of course, rice, and in travelling through the country ho had passed through no less than 1000 miles of rice fields. These were beautifully' kept and there was not a sign of a weed. Answering questions, Mr Hopwood said that the housing conditions of the Japanese workers did not _ compare favourably with those obtaining m New;. Zealand. Families lived in three rooms at the most, but they' were liappv, healthy and meticulously clean. The hours of work were about nine a day and the wages about Is 9d a day, but there was certainly no sign of poverty. Mr Hopwood saw indications that Japan could be a great customer of New Zealand, but the cheap labour there admittedly presented a problem regarding reciprocal trade. Liquor was sold by any shop and at any time of the day or night, hut in all' his travels he had never seen a man intoxicated. Mr Hopwood repudiated any suggestion that industry, had _ completely gripped the people, particularly the women. “The women are great home lovers and on a holiday they go out with their children all beautifully dressed and spotlessly clean,” he declared. Begging was an unhenrd-ot thing and Japan was the one country in the world wherein a stranger ielt really safe to go anywhere at any' time of day or night Mr Hopwood was accorded a vote ot thanks, and at the conclusion of the address many members remained behind to inspect further the curios brought back from the East.