JAPAN’S COMPETITION

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19117, 30 November 1933, Page 8

JAPAN’S COMPETITION

DEBATE IN COMMONS. WEBTERN WORLD ALARMED. STRIKING FIGURES. Jolted Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received Nov. 30, 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 29. • f Striking figures regarding Japanese trade with Britain and the Empire ■were given during a discussion of a private members’ motion in which Mr A. E. G. Fuller (Conservative — Manchester) urged the Government to take 'steps to minimise Japanese competition, in connection with which nothing adequate had yet been done. Japan’s exports increased by 96 per cent in the first six months of 1933. ; Japan was sending 33,000,000 square yards of cotton to Kenya and Uganda, compared, with Britain’s 5,000,000-' Japanese bioycles were selling in parts of the Far East at 21s each, electrio bulbs Is 6d per dozen, lead pencils Is lOd per gross and fountain pens 3d each. Japan-in the past 12 years subsidised her shipping companies to the extent of. £18,000,000, ■Major H. A. Proctor (Conservative— Accrington) said if Japanese competition is not checked there would be no Lancashire cotton industry left after |our years. The •whole Empire and the Weet.ern world are alarmed because the peopl o*o standard of, life'lt threatened by Japanese competition. Sir H. Samuel said Lancashire had Tost llve-6evenths of her pre-war export trade, chiefly owing to the collapse of the Indian trade and Japan’s competition. The chief cause of Japan’s success was lower wages and automatic looms. The Japanese cotion industry was a highly efficient -organisation, while Lancashire’s was a-loose mass of unorganised entities. The only way to reoover International trade was toy concentration on a reduction of costs. Japan’s subsidies and currency restrictions were Illegitimate and her competition must be jaounteraoted. ' ! LI r J - > , * CONFERENCE. -\ f “ 4 \ Li; \ ANGLO-BUTCH (ACTION. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright (Reoeived Noy. 30, 2.30 pun.) f - HAGUE, Nov. 29. The Federation of British Industries and the Dutoh Employers’ Federation will oonfer on December 2 with - a view to English and Dutch co-opera-tlon against Japanese competition in India and Europe. !