COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE. 147

net prices of 264 and 269.5 francs ($50.95 and $52.01). The export
of second-quality cheese was forbidden; its home price was from 206
to 215 francs ($39.76 to $41.49).
In order to control the sales and prices the syndicate not only
issues an export permit for the exact amount which is known to be
purchased by the foreign buyers, but it also demands advance payment
 together with the original order, so as to prevent any dealer
from purchasing export stock for speculation, in anticipation of an
increase in price.

JAPAN.

Introduction.—Although 58 per cent of Japan’s population is still
engaged in agriculture? its industries have been developed in such
a way in recent years that it is rapidly becoming a manufacturing
country.” An analysis of the marked growth of its industrial enterprises
 goes to show that increase of capital and a movement
toward industrial combination and centralization are two of the
main underlying factors. A tendency toward new forms of business
 organization, such as cartels or trusts, is observable in an increasing
 number of industries, such as hemp manufacturing, spinning,
 beer brewing, paper manufacturing, and others® The total
amount of the industrial products and manufactures of Japan is
estimated at over 1,000,000,000 yen ($498,000,000).# During the four
decades, 1870-1910, the volume of Japan’s foreign trade increased
over 19 times® This progress in commerce, industry, and trade has
been going on in spite of serious handicaps, especially a relative
absence of iron deposits, and the scarcity of skilled labor. For machinery
 the country is largely dependent on foreign sources.® Japanese
 manufacturers have whatever advantage there is in low wages
for men, and in the unlimited employment of women and children.
There are 18 per cent more female than male workers.
Japan’s foreign trade is hampered by the fact that its industries
are still carried on chiefly in the home and by hand. This makes it
hard to produce uniform staple products and to observe definite
periods of delivery.” Besides, Japanese industry is obliged to accommodate
 itself to the Asiatic and the American-European trade. Manufactures
 for home consumption are mostly made without machinery,

1 The Japan Yearbook. 1914, p. 338,
* Canada, Department of Trade and Commerce, Weekly Report, Sept. 28, 1914, p. 1632,
*Japan As It Is, compiled by His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s Commission to the
Panama-Pacific International Exposition. San Francisco, 1915, p. 157; Weltwirtschaft.
liches Archiv, 1915, I, p. 72.
* Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, 1915, I, p. 153.
$ The Japan Yearbook, 1914, p. 435.
8 Ibid., pp. 885, 386.
T Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, 1915, I, p. 72.