JAVA AS A MARKET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 4 March 1914, Page 8

JAVA AS A MARKET

OPENING FOR NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE. (United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 3Mr J.' H. S. Sturt, managing agent for Australia for the Royal Packet Steam Ship Company, which runs steamers 'between Australia and Java, arrived in Auckland yesterday to make arrangements for a New Zealand exhibit of produce at the forthcoming exhibition at Samarang. Mr Scurt pointed out that 35,000,000 people live in a country little bigger than the South Island of New Zealand, so thei\? is an enormous market ] for New Zealand produce. Mr Sturt had a good deal to say about the menace of Japan. "The Government of Holland has gore seriously into the question of the proper ' defence of the Dutch Indies," he sa:d. I "A Roval Commission of Defence sat. land as'.-result nine Dreadnoughts are ' to be built; also 18 destroyers, and 12 ' submarines. That means a heavy expenditure, but in view of the growth of Japan since the Russian war. it is felt ne-ces-arv to prepare to defend the Indies. This is a matter that also mtererts you over here, for if once Java passed into the hands of an Eastern nation it would bring them within close striking distance of Australia. It w an easy four days steam to the nearest point from Java to i Australia, and still less from eorae of *he outlvinsr islands belonging to the Dutch. 'Although the expenditure en ! defence will be large, the Government •' of Holland recognises the value of Java, a* these islands are progressing wonderfullv, and during the last ten year? the | imports and exports have increased by I 25 per cent."