New-York tribune., 1921-03-13

OI TuODer goods turning then
in the Orient and Antipodes, where
Japan supplies large part of this
trade at present, but the field is broad
and comparatively unscratched. Re
ports from commercial agents Of the
Department Of Commerce indicate q
growing interest in automobiles in
China, India and Australasia, which will
result in increased demand for tires
OF course, deprecia ted exchange rates
handicap foreign purchasers in this
country, and virtually prevent them
from taking advantage OF price reduc-
tions on automotive and rubber goods
at present, but manufacturers are max
ing preparations to bid for the trade
as soon as readj tment of conditions
has gone far enough to permit rcsump-
tlon Of business relations.
The development of the rubber in
dustry in the Orient and in Australasia ia
presents an interesting study.
Owing to a protective tariff and to
other encouragements from the Jap
anese government, along the line of
its policy to make Japan as nearly in
dependent economically as possible, the
rubber industry in Japan has developed
remarkably since the first factory was
started in 1886.
For the last ten years considerable
attention has been paid TO shins
and leasing rubber plantations in the
Malay Peninsula and in Sumatra. There
are now twenty ompanic., with an ap-
proXimate aggregated capital of Sill
t47 800, owning or leasing more than
20. 1000 acres, engaged in this activity.
Added TO this acreage Is consider
able area privately owned or leased by
Japanese.
Investments Encouraged
Apparently every encouragement IS
given these investments, ana, as Hrea'
Britain seems to have changed its
policy of 1917 to withhold further
leases in the Malay Peninsula to Jap
anese, the industry has flourish Not
withstanding the present economic de
preston in Japan. This industry IS
therefore, in a fairly healthy condi-
tion.
come a center and distributing point
in the Far East for rubber and manu-
factures thereof. In so far as foreign
rubber goods do not too closely com
pete with Japanese manufactures, a
good market is found there for al
classes Of such articles, with the possl-
bic exception Of rubber boots aho
shoes. although the import or thcse
has considerably increased wlthih lne
last three wears, notably from the
United States.
As for rubber tires, the increasing
Number of automobiles n Japan (there
ara now more than 1000 registered
cars( and the bad roads make Japan
alone a comparatively good market Tor
a,,torn chile tires However, several
large Japanese concerns. are no" hah
;n, cuch tires, which, while not as good
as American products, are falr IN qua .
itv and considerably cheaper. ! ms IS
an important point. as the Japanese re
ant to consider only the first cost OF a
thing.
Distribution and Terms
distribution is carried out along
usual lipes-from the manufacturer or
;nnorter, through the wholesale ana re
fail merchants, to the consumer, al
though importers often also conduct
WV olesale or retail business. The terms
are usually cash on delivery, or IN tne
case of we'll known companies one or
even two months credlt. Inc tlaoe
Journals here devoted to the rubber IN
duStry are pub1Shed III '0PH
The value of certain yearly imports
nc ,ndia rubber manufactures into
Janan were: 1912. 81, 1873 ,433; 1918
sosoe14: 1915. s225,252 1917, S349,379, !,
1918. S68S .29S; 1919. S92a,99t-
The above figures. taken in connec-
tion with the expansion of domestlc
manufacture in recent years, arc lno'c-
a+ive Of the consider rabiy increased con
SUMPTION Of rubber goods in Japan
since 1915. Notwithstanding an export
trade that grows larger each year.
Tires go chiefly to China, the Dutch
Indies and the Straits Settiements;
insulated electric wire and cables TO
the Dutch Indies, China, kwantuns
Province, Australia, and Asiatlc Nus
sia: whereas other rubber manufac-
lures find markets principally in the
United States. various countries III
Asia and in Great Britain.
As Germany is not able to supply
TOYS in the quantities it formerly did
toy-making has attained considerable e
devclonment in Japan Rubber toys
especially are now being made. In
1alS rubber toys to the value OF
s3S2.029 were exported from Japan. In
1919 the exports thereof had increased
TO $685.
Formosa Depends on Japan
Formosa depends for its supply OF
rubber goods upon imports from Japan
Even goods of other than japanese
manufacture are ordered in most cases
through importers in Japan proper OF
from stocks of imported goods main
tanned there by large wholesale houses
The demand there is still relatively
small. Formosa is but just beginning
r. Seyslop industriallSs and its Q9pula'