Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-07-28
OK CART GIVES
Way TO AUTO in
EASTERN WORLD

The American automobile made big
gains in the Far East in 1916, accord.
ing to D. E. Casey Of the bureau of
foreign and domestic commerce in the
New York custom house. The govern
ments representative said the OrieE.
tai was waking up to the pleasures o:
motoring, and also to the advantages
fthe American motor car.
The statement showed that last yea.
the automobile manufacturers of this
country exported to Asia 1924 cars
valued at nearly $4,000, 900, almost
thre times as many as in the previous
year and five times as many as In
1914
In Hongkong and other Chinese
cities strenuous efforts are being
made to increase the mileage OF au-
tomobile roads, endsegery mile OF nex
road adds to the number Of prospec.
tive purchasers Of automobiles. Foe.
merly most Of the cars in China were
owned by companies and were for
public hire, but now individuals, both
Europeans and natives, are buying
| automobiles for their own use,
Japan Alone Shows Slump in Buying
Japan, It was stated, was the only
country in the Orient buying fewer
motor cars from this country IN 1916.
The Japanese are now manufactures
their own cars to some extent and at
prices which serious cut into the bust
ness of American exporters. Al!
AT the close Of 1916" Mr.. Casey
said, there were los cars In use on
the Island of Hongkong, practically
all of which are Of American makea
The city of Shanghai has issued 500
automobile licenses, which is about %
per cent more than the number issued
in 1915. Nearly all automobiles in
China are used in the cities which
have a large European population. As
yet they have not been extensively
used in the interior.
"The Straits settlements offer an
other attractive field for the American
automobile manufacturer. There are
about $500 miles Of excellent road In
the Malay Peninsula, and the people
have a greater buying power than ever
before on account of the high price or
tin AMI rubber. In 1914 British man.
ufacturers sold care to the value OF
over 100000, while the United States
shipped about $3.50, 600 worth. In 1915.
however, we exported to Malaga more
! than twice as many cars as did Great
| Britain.
| Chinese Merchants
! Aid in Development
Much of the business there is done
with the wealthy Chinese, who are
| not content in many cases with own
ing one car when once they take to
motoring. Planters and miners use
automobiles to some extent, but the
Chinese merchants are at present the
most important element of the trade.
Many new tracts of land are now be-
ing opened up and motor traction
seems to have a bright future there,
afthoug hthe railway system in the
more popular districts are excellent.
The market in Japan is small
since only twenty-six cars, valued at
| $30,595, were imported in 1915. OF
this number ten were imported from
the United States and eight from
European countries, In 1914 seventy.
six cars were imported, having a total
value Of $l06, APO. A taxicab COMPANY
in Toxic Is now operating forty.two
cars from nine stands, and carries
about 700 passengers daily. All Of
these cars are of American make and
were furnished by an American firm:
! In Japan.
Java No" Offers Good Opportunities
Java offers another good opportur-
| ity for automobile manufacturers. In
1916 that country imported 1885 cars,
Of which 2251 came from the United
States, forty-seven from the Neither.
lands and sixty-three from Italy. This
is an increase of about 400 per cen.
over 1915. when only SIS cars alto.
| gether were imported.
1T is only within the last few years
that the automobile has been Of any
commercial importance in India. s.
Mr.. Casey said the department o.
commerce considered the Far Eastern
markets sufficiently important to war
! rant sending a representative there e.
Investigate fer the benefit Of Ameri-