THE New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, JANUARY, 8, 1895. TRADE WITH JAPAN.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2403, 8 January 1895, Page 2

THE New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

TUESDAY, JANUARY, 8, 1895. TRADE WITH JAPAN.

With which are incorporated tho Wellington Independent, established 18i5 t and the New Zealander .

Tub Anglo-Japanese treaty will, as we pointed out yesterday, open tto Wdm of Japan, a coputi'y- whCaO ciyiliSAtioll, increasing rapidly from day to day, augments tho wants of Ike people in direct proportion. The fitospect opening out is of an immeaSD trade.,. In the treaty there is the usual • clause, customary in 1 «ul tho Imperial commercial treaties of the last fourteen years, excepting all the self - sovoniihg Colonies from its provisions, unless notice is £iven within two years from the Rate M ratificatiou of theie wish to fee included. This is what; makes tfcO treaty deeply interesting ■ ho New Sealand. That optional clause offers Us a key to enormous possibilities, and gives us plenty of time in which to make up ourminds about taking it. Five thousand miles, as the crow flies, the new market iies from us. In the line are New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, the Carolines and the Ladroaes, besides numerous other groups extending to within SOO miles of the Japanese coast, and to the east of the line lie the New Hebrides, about 150 miles from the track. At ten knots it is a three weeks’ journey direct, and at fourteen a fortnight’s steaming will cover the distance. All the countries named are worth noting as of increasing commercial capacity, many of -them destined no doubt to feel the vigorous stimulus of Japanese colonisation. But tho great market at the other end is the main attraction, of course, the other places ottering substan- , tial, if subsidiary, rewards to enlightened commercial enterprise. The western route is much longer, hut it offers brilliant possibilities. New Guinea, the Dutch East, Indies, and the Philippines, the last two named being populous and wealthy marts—what possibilities are there not for a line of steamers trading between ■Wellington and Japan by that route! What will Japan take from us, and what can wo take from Japan? That is > the_ great question. One of the moat enlightened projects that has over been known south of the lino was set on foot’ last year to answer a similar question by the Government of Victoria. That Government sent a well equipped commission which visited a great number of markets from India to Japan, and returned home with ’ much' encouragement and , a most instructive report. Amongst other tilings, they reported “that the Japanese people are becoming very large meat eaters, and that mutton, which is only procurable from China, is regarded as one of their greatest luxuries.”. Wool, leather and dairy produce were also mentioned as articles of import into Japan at the present moment, with largely increasing possibilities of development. Coal they have there in plenty, but the article is inferior, being enormously smoky, as the accounts of their naval manoauvres have largely testified. They are the very people to take to the superior article, the very best in the Pacific, which New Zealand can supply. The timbers of New . Zealand may-never, handsome as they are, -be in demand for furniture purposes in a country where furniture is of the lightest •description, and depends largely on the banihoo. But'for purposes of more,, solid construction there maybe a demand. It would be a grand thing to follow the Vic- , torian example and send a commission over from Now Zealand to .enquire into tho whole question. The Subject iff Of the greatest importance, as has been pointed out by many writers. Because tho Australasian ; Colonies ■ are being driven- by the necessities of -> their situation into rapidly increasing - th& products of the soil. The problem of life here is governed by two considerations. In the first place; we must increase the output of the soil in order to find employment, sustenance, and careers for our people. In tho second place, the prices of all kinds of produce are low, and the- prospect is not the prospect of a rapid rise. Governments, it has also been urged, cannot increase their-revenues by Customs taxation, the direct taxation of New Zealand is heavy enough-to .make increase undesirable, manufactures "have reached the point at which progress must bo slow, in. countries -which are vitally interested ;in making progress ‘ rapidThere is literally no course open bus. to got the lands settled as quickly as possible.' ■ Under the circumstances, the securing of a new market is the greatest of all the things we. have to desire. Canada is our rival, and in the same position with regard to the key offered for unlocking tho new and large market offered. Moreover, the United States will be in the field early, for they are about Jto follow- the British example by making a treaty admitting Japan to equality of civilised rights. New Zealand, it is clear, has many rivals for the now field of trade. On tho other hand, tho war now raging makes it probable that - Japan may succeed in - getting into her conquering hands the organising of China, the result of which would bo to largely increase tho possibili- - ties of Eastern trade. An opportunity is . being opened in tho East, which must givo the greatest profits to those who are tho first to seize, it. For - which reason wo hope that the question will bo taken up warmly, and energetically, and 'iri 'ran eh-' - Isghtoflfed'spirit.--Wo, do not see why we should wait for Australia, which necessarily must move slowly. The Britain of the South can afford to move alone, and should do so without delay; While Australia is talking, wo can take tho koy and unlock the market. •' - -

DIVIDENDS. The idea of dividends in those times is refreshing. It is more j it is, in view of tho awful -croakings that fill the air, uhex-. poctcd. Capital lias shrunk into holes and corners, labour is flying from us, in search of tho confidence that has flown away on the wings of panic, prices and vanishing quantities are

synonymous, tho look out ahead is, if possible, more horrible than the look out on cither side—yet there ate 'dividends. Tho other day the Gear Company shocked the pessimists by Ignoring the awful' condition of the market so far .as to pay 10 per cent, to the, shareholdors. Yesterday the National Bank added to the insult by preeteifliing tho injury of a dividend.. Wo congratulate tho National Baei On keeping on the even tenor of its Way amidst the many difficulties Of the time. By showing that capital {« doing reasonably weU after all the Bank proves, as other banks hate proved during the year, that the situation is not so bad as it is painted politically. Wo can all turn out, back's oh the pessimists, and look hopefrifly to the future, with the deteiitoiUutiOn to put our best energies to making the most of the many opportunities the world will always offer us.