JAPANESE VISITORS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19661, 22 August 1935, Page 8

JAPANESE VISITORS

MISSION OF GOODWILL.

BHORT STAY IN HAMILTON-SEMI-OFFICIAL WELCOME. Delighted with all they had seen so far and with the hospitality extended to them on all sides, the members of the Japanese Goodwill Mission had morning tea in Hamilton to-day on their way from Auckland to Rolorua. They were accompanied by Sir Alexander Young, Minister of Internal Affairs, who is representing the Government -and travelling with the delegation on its tour of the Dominion. The distinguished visitors were met at the Hamilton Hotel by the ‘Mayor, Mr J. R. Fow, the town cleric, Mr W. L. Waddel, Mr R- H. McKenzie, chairman of directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, and Messrs F. A. Swarbrick and h. Phillips-Turner. Heading the party is His Excellency, Mr Katsuji Debuchi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Mr YShudo, economic adviser, Mr KToyoda, secretary, Professor P- A. v. Russo, an eminent Australian, of the Tokyo University of Commerce, who is acting as personal adviser to Mr Debuchi, and Mr Ishido, private secretary. They are in New Zealand purely on a mission of peace and goodwill and consequently are not easily lured into discussion on commercial and economic matters. Interest In Dairying. Interviewed by a Waikato Times reporter Mr Toyoda expressed delight with all they had witnessed and regretted that their. stay in various town-s was no longer- All of them were on their first visit to New Zealand with the exception of. Professor Russo, who was here as a child, and could remember little of the country and Its people. Mr. Toyoda w’as interested to learn that the Waikato was one of the principal dairying districts in New Zealand and mentioned that on their journey from Auckland in the morning they had called at the T&upirl factory of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company,- Limited, and had been amazed at ttie large scale production of milk products, Japan, he said manufactured all the .butter and ghee it required.for commercial purposes as millions of people never consumed it. Their ■ dairy factories, were much smaller and not so well-equipped as those here. Butter was,, however, available at all Japanese hotels and restaurants. :

"Mr Toyoda said he recognised the value of- maintaining good trade relations between Japan and New ZealandCasein was a New Zealand product which was welcome in Japan and was used for manufacturing a wide variety of -articles, while New Zealand wool was also very acceptable. Armaments Expenditure. Economic conditions in Japan were still hindered as a result of extensive Government expenditure on the Army and Navy, added Mr Toyoda. In fact, the Government had shown a deficit for the past six years. However, countries appeared to be following similar action and he agreed that world trade could hardly be expected to improve while people were being so heavily taxed to provide armaments. All the visitors possess a charming and unassuming manner. They seem to experience no language difficulties and soon accustom themselves to new company. They left .shortly before noon for Rotorua by car and will join tho Limited express for Wellington at Frank ton Junction this evening.