TRADE WITH JAPAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20976, 12 September 1931, Page 10

TRADE WITH JAPAN.

INDICATIONS OF GROWTH. PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE. Indications of a growing trade between New Zealand and Japan have been noticed bv the Auckland agents of the Osaka Sliosen Kaisha, which inaugurated a shipping service between the two countries in February. 1930. In common with other shipping companies the Osaka Line has/uffered as a result of the depression, but inquiries for the extension of trade with Japan are being received and it is anticipated that the export as well as the import trade will increase with an improvement in the country s financial position. At present the trade is largely affected by the adverse exchange rate. The motor-ship Melbourne Maru, which arrived at Wellington early in September, via Autralia, and left Auckland on Thursday afternoon on her return trip after discharging here, landed one of the largest cargoes yet brought under the service. The average cargo for Auckland is about 150 tons, but at Wellington, which serves the South Island ports, it is considerably more. The Japanese trade is seasonable, Cargoes from Japan include celluloid, porcelain and glass ware, silk, cotton goods and Japanese oak. With the start of the summer and Christmas trade quantities of toys are imported. The exports from New Zealand to Japan include wool, butter, casein and tallow. About four months ago a fair quantity of tallow was exported, and all the reserve space for New Zealand cargo was fully occupied, some having to be declined. However, at that time there were heavy wool shipments from Australia and space was limited.

That it is the company's intention to continue the service, in spite of the present trade depression and of the fact that it is debarred from the intercolonial trade, is evident from the fact that the agents have received a provisional timetable extending to February, 1932.