A TRADE MENACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24474, 6 December 1940, Page 2

A TRADE MENACE

INDUSTRIAL JAPAN UNLIMITED CHEAP LABOUR MONOPOLISTIC METHODS "I look upon Japan as an absolute menace industrially," said Mr J. G. Gilbert-Lodge, of Aldwych, London, in an interview with a Daily Times reporter yesterday. " I have come to the conclusion that the Japanese can obtain markets for anything the country produces in any country in the world, unless there is an absolute prohibition against them," he added. " The Japanese have the most modern plant in the world, and an unlimited supply of cheap skilled labour." Men worked in skilled trades for Is lOd an hour, and women for lOd an hour, he said. Moreover, the average New Zealander or Australian would produce much less in the same time. All Japanese factories were open to Governrrent inspection, while if any plant or subsidiary contractor worked on a Government order the whole of the factories engaged would be closed down to the public, and the workers admitted by pass only. t "The whole atmosphere is Japan for Japan . only'." Mr Gilbert-Lodge said. " Japan merely tolerates foreigners and does not encourage them. No foreign business can be operated by foreigners alone, but must include Japanese. No cargo steamer can leave a Japanese port unless the line is associated with a Japanese. No foreigners' goods are accepted until the day of sailing, lest Japanese goods are forced out of the cargo on account of space." . , He related how Japanese goods were sent to foreign countries, and the Japanese Consul there was told they were arriving. The agents for Japan in these countries followed the goods to see who obtained them, if they could not find out from the ship s papers in Japan, which were open only to the Japanese. Then they would take steps to obtain the agency themselves. In this way Japan was furthering the slogan " Japan for the Japanese."