IMPORTS FROM JAPAN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18924, 28 January 1936, Page 2

IMPORTS FROM JAPAN

EFFECT ON BRITAIN

MELBOURNE, Jan. 16.

The director of the Australian Association of British Manufacturers, Mr. S. F. Ferguson, said to-day that Australia, in developing her trade with Japan, must take care that she did not destroy her much more valuable trade with Great Britain.

Mr. Ferguson referred to a statement made in Sydney yesterday by the president of the Graziers' Association, TTTr. J. P. Abbott, that there was a market In Australia frir Japanese cotton piece goods, the majority of which did not compete with Australian industry." "There is a market in Australia for Japanese cotton and artificial silk goods, .and it is being rapidly developed, said GVfr. Ferguson. "This development is taking place at the' exrienso of the United Kingdom. Imports of artificial silk piece goods from the United King•<lom fell from £961,000 in the peak year 1929-30, to £715,000 in 1034-35, but' imports from Japan rose from £13,658 to £1,391,000 during the same period. The quantitative increase in imports from .Japan is much more stai/tling. Japan's share of the trade in 1930. was negligible, but her sales to Australia amounted to 59 million yards in. 1.934-35, against, 10,000,000 yards from tine United Kingdom. There is a danger that Australians may forget that although Japan is an excellent customer, Britain is a ■very much better one. Australia had a ■favorable trade balancw with Japan of £5tg5,052,000 in 1934-,"55, but her favorable balance with the United Kingdom in the same year was £stgl2,lol,ooo, or more than £20,000,000} if gold and silver exports, are included.