494 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[July 1, 1912. 



Comparative Japanese Import Statistics. 



STATISTICS deriving their value from their comparative 

 features, it has been impossible to draw from the official 

 records conclusions of a reliable character as to the ef- 

 fects of the new Japanese tariff, until its operation could be 

 shown for a more or less extended period. 



Such an opportunity is afforded by a comparison of the fig- 

 ures for the first five months of the new tariff which went 

 into effect July 17, 1911, with those for the corresponding pe- 

 riods oi 1909 and 1910. While not forming an official table, 

 it has been found possible to construct that shown below by a 

 compilation of the separate figures for the periods covered. 



The broad fact deducible from this comparison is — that the 

 value of Japanese imports of rubber manufactures for the five 

 months, August to December, represented for the last three 

 years— 1909, $791,727; 1910, $1,222,598; 1911, $556,939. As- 

 suming that the figures of 1910 had been unduly swelled by the 

 anticipated advance in duties, 1911 shows a falling off to the 

 extent of one-third as compared with 1909: 

 Manufactured Rubber Imports from August to December 31. 



1909. 1910. 1911. 



Plates and sheets (soft and hard) $22,848 $42,054 $22,069 

 Tubes and rods (soft and hard).. 10.674 19,536 11,883 

 Other classes 19,480 22,681 43,385 



Total group B $53,002 $84,271 $77,337 



Engine packings $54,321 $72,643 $52,102 



Hose and machine beltings 8,962 12,045 14,611 



Total group C $63,283 $84,688 $66,713 



Submarine and underground cables $51,977 $439,532 $14,669 

 All other insulated wire 443,769 435,747 310,323 



Total group D $495,746 $875,279 $324,992 



Rubber boots :.. $5,600 



Rubber shoes 



7,664 



Elastic boot webbings 19,938 



Waterproof cloth 72.672 



Elastic bands and cords 9,574 



Air pillows 7,184 



Quilts and cushions 7,490 



Sundry manufactures of india-rub- 

 ber and gutta percha 49,574 



$5,595 

 3,992 

 24,302 

 69,411 

 5,786 

 8,656 

 6,407 



$17,122 



10,679 



12,091 



7,235 



11,622 



1,222 



3,838 



54,211 24,088 



Total group E $179,696 $178,360 $87,897 



Summary. 



August 1 to December 31. 1909. 



Group B $53,002 



C 63,283 



" D 495,746 



E 179,696 



August 1 to December 31 791,727 



January 1 to July 31 754,457 



Totals for years $1,546,184 $2,318,427 $2,939,070 



The effect of the new tariff was thus to reduce the imports of 



rubber manufactures for the last five months of 1911 by about 



one-third as compared with 1909, and by more than half as 



against 1910. 



When the returns up to July 31, 1912, are available, it will be 



possible to make a comparison between full years of the new 

 and old tariffs. 



Crude Rubber. 

 Japanese manufacturers have been importing more crude rub- 

 ber, which more or less offsets the reduced imports of manu- 

 factures as shown liy the following figures ; 

 (Group A) 1909. 1910. 1911. 



January 1 to July 31 pounds. 794,876 817,901 1,158,463 



August 1 to December 31 526,587 763,017 896,401 



Totals for years 1,321,463 1,580,918 2,054,864 



Crude rubber, being free under both tariffs, its movements are 

 chiefly of interest as illustrating the direct effects of the new 

 tariff upon imports of manufactures, by the consequent develop- 

 ment of Japanese production. The imports of rubber, which for 

 the 19 months ending July 31, 1910, had amounted to 2,139,364 

 pounds (or an average of about 112,600 pounds per month), rep- 

 resented for the ensuing 17 months to December 31, 1911, a 

 quantity of 2,817,881 pounds, or an average of 165,760 pounds per 

 month. Thus, in anticipation of the reduction of imports shown 

 after the new tariff had gone into effect, the Japanese manu- 

 facturers had been importing free crude rubber on a scale of in- 

 crease approximating 50 per cent. Figures of 1912 show for 

 February, 58,152 pounds, and for March, 80,183 pounds, thus 

 representing a reduced importation of crude rubber this year. 

 toyo rubber company, limited. 

 This company was established in 1900 with a capital of $150,000, 

 which was reduced by 1908 to $75,000. Its motive power is 

 furnished by one engine (100 h. p.), two boilers (each 100 h. p.), 

 and a dynamo. The working staff numbers 92 hands of both 

 sexes. That further extension is contemplated is shown by the 



^^ ^'llSHll).\. 



fact that while the area built on is only six-tenths of an acre, 

 the property covers 2J.2 acres. The products of this company 

 for 1911 represented $143,000, including hose and tubes, insu- 

 lated wire, sheets, belting, tires (cycle and jinrikisha), paper 

 press rolls, etc. 



N. Nagotomi is president, while Yutaro Yoshida is superin- 

 tendent and manager. The experts are Mr. Kitoyama and B. 

 Fujii, both graduates of the Tokyo Imperial University. 



