Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-12-21
FIGHTING
HARD IN WAR FOR
WORLD MARKETS
Has Made Tremendous Strides
in Manufacturing and Ex-
porting Since 1914
HER INDUSTRIES THRIVING

Has Captured Markets Held by Other
Nations-Trade to Australia Quad
rupIed-BuIlding 100000 Tons or
Shipping to Handle Export Expanslon
In the past few years Japan has un-
dergone a tremendous Industrial devel-
opment. The enormous progress made
by her In manufacturing and export
ing since the outbreak of the war In
little realized in. this country.
1t is not fully recognized that Japan
Is gradually changing from an agricul-
tural to an Industrial country, and that
In her new drive to win some OF the
foreign markets she has captured con-
siderable of the business which was
formerly held by this country. The
great expansion OF her foreign trade
since 1914 Is shown by the official re-
turns of her trade in 1916.
Exports Far In Excess Of imports.
During that year the total value OF
imports was 1855 500, 900 yen, being an
increase of $4,000, 900, while the ex-
ports for the same period amounted to
1,127,600 900 yen, being an increase OF
about 419, 000, 900 yen. The actual ex.
cess of exports over imports for he
year was 371, 900, 900 yen, as compared
with ITO, 600, 900 yen for 1915.
The changed position which has
taken place since the beginning of the
war may be seen from the fact that
for the year 1914 there was actually
an excess in the value of the imports
over exports of about 100000 yen.
Cotton manufacture is one of her
principal industries, and the statistics
show that the average number of spin
dies working daily in Japan In 1914
| 1.-THE latest available year, was nearly
$500, 900. Wool manufacture was not
carried on before the wal to any great
extent, but it has now received a con-
siderable impetus, and Japanese fac'
tories are executing orders from the
Russian Government.
The production Of iron and steel
both in government and private works
has also been very considerable, the
best iron ores being imported from
| China. Japan has some 100000 tons
of shipping now under construction
and the industry Is In a hourish1ng
| condition. Her merchant marine con-
| sists of 2,170 steamers Of 1,704, 1855
tons, and 9,187 sailing ships OF 572,40S
tons. Ocean-going steamers exceeding
10000 tons number 448, with a total
tonnage of 1,42S,2 PIP tons. Thirty-nine
ocean-going steamers. OF 14O,236 o n
were launched from Japanese yards In
1916.
NAV Use American Machinery.
It might be added hat Japan is now
Investigating the possibility OF using
American c~otton-spinning machinery
In their mills. The extent Of purchases
already decided on Is estimated at
zoe, 900 spindles.
How her credit stands may be Q
from the fact that her Az per cent.
loan is quoted on the London Stock
Exchange at 91h, yielding at that
price. interest of nearly 5 per cent.
| Great Britain's Az per cent. loan Is
quoted at 92A, SO We see how the rela-
| tive positions of the two countries
have changed since 1914. Before that
fateful time no one would have
dreamed of comparing the two credits.
Already Japanese manufacturers
have quadrupled their exports to Aus
tralia. Ships which in the past aver
aged d cargo of $50 tons now bring to
| SYDNEY $500 tons. The Japanese have
captured a great deal Of the trade once
firmly held by American, British, Ger
man and French exporters. In the silk
market they nave won the premier
position. and Australian shops are now
filed to overlooking with cheap jap
anese silks.
The following Japanese goods are
now sold with great success in the
Australian market: Glasses, scientific
instruments, silks, Panama hats, cot
tons. toys, in~sulators, electric light ap-
paratus. camphor, sulphur oil, matches,
b~asketware, rubber tires, bottles, por-
celain.
Japan's rapid industrial and COM
mercia1 strides will serve to intensity
the formidable competition which the
American manufacturer will have to-
meet both in domestic and foreign
markets after the war. They afford
another striking proof Of the necessity
for restoring friendly relations be-
tween capital and labor, securing few
or and better business laws and
moulding a better public attitude to-
ward business so that American in
dustry may be rid of it's harassments
and made strong for the trade fight
after the restoration of peace.-Indus-
trial Conservation, Neio York.
Feeling the Public Pulse.