BOYCOTT ACTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22859, 14 October 1937, Page 14

BOYCOTT ACTION

JAPANESE ATTITUDE GAIN RATHER THAN LOSE EFFECT ON PRICE OF WOOL " Jf Australia and New Zealand boycott Japanese goods they cannot expect Japan to buy from them," said Mr. Bunshirow Suzuki, a director of Asahi Newspapers, Tokyo and Osaka, Who arrived from Sydney by the Wanganella yesterday on a short health visit to the Dominion.

Mr. Suzuki pointed out that Japan bought four times as much from Australia as Australia bought from Japan. Wool was imported for home consumption only, but if it was not available those Japanese who wore woollen clothes could change to silk or cotton, which was still favoured by the majority. If she obtained wool with. a view to manufacturing for export Japan might lose. " We lose nothing by ceasing to buy Australian products," he said-. "Wo gain, because such action will stop the outflow of specie which is most necessary at the moment to finance the war. As we are Australia's second-best customer for wool, our withdrawal from the market will result in a serious effect on prices, as far as the Australian farmer is concerned." Mr. Suzuki said he felt that New Zealand people, as well as Australians, had been misled by war news emanating from Chinese sources and that they had a feeling that was anything but friendly toward the Japanese. That was most regrettable for both New Zealand and Japan, because the latter had been showing a most friendly sentiment toward the Dominion. Not a single line against New Zealand, had ever been written in any Japanese periodical or newspaper, although much had been written against other countries.

" Trade relations between the two countries are ideal because we are supplementary to one another," ho said. The Japanese had a kind of endearing sentiment toward New Zealand, which they were often told was so similar to their own country as regards the discipline of the people, the landscapes, and the desire for justice and order.