Items from Many Quarters German agents in China and Japan are very active, says "The Times" in an article.on dyes, although they have had few dyestuffs to offer since the armistice. It is said that alliances have been formed with prominent Japanese firms, and that the Japanese colour makers will be approached by their compatriots in the interests of the German dye makers.
Better results are being secured at the motor car factories in Birmingham, it is reported in the uionthly review issued by Barclay's Bank. Production is still unbalanced, but more efficient recipe cal working of the different parts of the manufacturing systems gradually being brought about. The cycle industry 4s still a long way from realizing capacity output. In some cases, reorganization is very incomplete; in others, developments are retarded from difficulties inherent in the situation, raw material and labour limita: tions among them. The export demand is larger than can be niet till more favourable conditions are established. A substantial pro portion of the output is, however, being set aside for customers over seas, among who ni the Japanese are very insistent, Belgian glass exports hava now very nearly attained their pre-war evel, and prices have been increased owing to the enormous demands. Day and ight work are fairly general with all the producers. The monthly production is now well over 28 million square feet of glass. and the workmen engaged by the glass industry are nearly 110.000 with @ guaranted minimum daily wage of 92 francs.
The financial difficulties in connexion with the Cotton Trade Mission to the Far East have apparently been surmounted, and mention has been made of a start in the late autumn. The deputation is to tour India and China, and it is hoped that the visit will be followed by an expansion in the export trade to these countries.
The camphor-producing industry in the Foochow consular district commenced to in 1904, and the boom lasted about six years. In. 1906, 1.516.600 Ib. of camphor, valued at $932,793 gold, were exported from Foochow. In 1917 the exports amounted to only 49,533 Ib. valued at $27,533. In 1918 there was a slight improvement in the trade, due to the high price offered, which made it profitable for certain dealers to expand their business. In this year exports of camphor frou Foochow amounted to 56.533 Ib. valued at $53,536. The Government is anxious to revive the camphor trade, an American Consular report says, and might be willing to bear at least a part of the expense of reforestation. It is estimated that a capital of about $150,000 would be necessary to undertake' this business on an adequate scale, but perhaps with modern methods of distillation the trade could be made profitable, at least for a time.
The Anglo-Japanese trade for the firs; four months of the present Year resulted in a balance favourable to Great Britain, according te a report from the Japanese Finance Department. The total value of imports from Great Britain amounted to 73,521,375 against Y.39,555.569 for the corresponding period of the previous year while the total of exports from Japan amounted fo Y.36,643,428 against 'Y.32.661,004 for the corresponding period of last year-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.