Page:Japan by the Japanese (1904).djvu/449

Hence much stress is laid on the furtherance of trade with Far Eastern countries, especially that with China and Corea.

Restricting ourselves to questions of importance, as well as to those related with finance and economy, we come first to that of the taking off of the strict controls placed on the business in the stock and rice exchanges. The Government, as well as those upholding sounder ways of doing business, incline to further restriction, while the people related with business, as well as those of a more speculative tone of mind, incline toward relaxation. Undoubtedly it is better not to add fuel to the fire of speculation, but to encourage a sound, sure, and regular way of doing business. There are thirteen rice exchanges, four stock exchanges, and forty-nine other exchanges.

Next comes the question of improving the Chambers of Commerce, which number in all fifty-eight, by increasing their power and exercising greater selection of their members. Some urge their total abolition unless great improvements are made. Such is, no doubt, too extreme a view, but the necessity of improvement must be admitted, because as they now stand their utility and influence cannot be said to be great.

How to increase the savings of the people seems now to be in the mind of the thoughtful, some going so far as to urge the necessity of adopting the lottery system in postal savings.