FI,UCTUATIONS IN PRICES AND WAGES 



137 



As we see, it is especially the total consumption of rice that has rapidly- 

 increased, whilst, the average consumption per inhabitant has indeed in- 

 creased, but in less degree, without any really considerable fluctuations. It 

 may therefore be deduced that of the two causes indicated above as having 

 had the greatest influence in increasing consumption, the increase of the 

 population is the most important. 



If we compare the statistics of consumption with those of native pro- 

 duction, we shall see how little proportion they bear to one another. Let 

 us consider, for example, the years, 1908, 1909 and i9io,in which the price 

 of rice was highest. In those three years the difference between the amount 

 produced in the previous year and that consumed in the year in course, 

 was, respectively, 2,850,000 koku, 1,200,000 koku and 1,600,000 koku. 

 Importation from Formosa partly made up for the difference in the years 

 1908 and 1909, as in those years it amounted to 1,100,000 and 1,050,000 

 koku, respectively. But in 1910, Formosa could only supply 722,000 koku 

 to meet the deficiency of 1,160,000 koku. Hence the necessity of facilitating 

 the import from abroad, and the Government has given careful consideration 

 to this. It understood that an abundant importation alone could reduce 

 to their normal rate the prices tending to rise vertiginoiisly. But the im- 

 portation from abroad could not always be sufiicient to exert a favourable 

 influence on prices. Many causes, which it is not here the place to deal with, 

 necessarily conspired to hmit such importation. On the other hand, the 

 Japanese Government could not but be alarmed at the injurious effects 

 this economic policy might have upon the national economy, above all as 

 large payments had to be made abroad, which is not to be considered one of 

 the least reasons for the increased rate of exchange and the succession of 

 serious economic consequences due to it. In any case, in recent years, Ja- 

 pan has become a large importer of rice. It must be considered as one of 

 the principal customers of British India, as far as this commodity is con- 

 cerned. Before proceeding with the study of the prices of rice, we think it 

 well to give here a few figures showing the amount imported into Japan 

 from different countries in the period 1906-12. 



