SOUGHT 100,000 TONS OF WHEAT

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 190, 10 May 1934, Page 10

SOUGHT 100,000 TONS OF WHEAT

Sdr B. Fuller’s Commission

COULD NOT PROCURE IT IN AUSTRALIA

At a time when every country in tlie world is looking in this period of depression for buyers of its produce, it is surprising to hear of a man going to Australia with a commission, backed b.v a bank guarantee for payment, to purchase 100,600 tons of wheat on behalf of a European merchant, to find in the end that so great were the difficulties in his way that be could only place orders for a bare 3000 or 4000 tons. Yet this was the experience of Sir Benjamin Fuller, of the wellknown theatrical firm, who arrived at Wellington yesterday from Sydney by the Wunganclki. In an interview witli “The Dominion,” Sir. Benjamin said when he arrived back at Sydney some two months ago with a commission from a friend in Europe to purchase on his behalf some 100,000 English tons of Australian wheat—not. bushels or quarters — he went blithefully into tlie market, expecting to find plenty of sellers willing to dispose of their grain. He soon found, however, that -there were nearly as many difficulties in the way of buying wheat, as there were in the way of buying motion picture films, with the result that lie was still receiving cables asking'where the wheat was. The only wheat he was able to purchase was a couple of cargoes from Western Australia amounting to 3000 or 4000 tons. Sir Benjamin said that on these matters lie was a layman, but when he read and heard of the troubles of the farmer, he just wondered. He went on the Rialto, and instead of being able to buy wheat, so many difficulties presented themselves that he was still wheatless. Some persons told him ho could not get ships to carry such a huge amount: others told him to wait until May 15; and still others told him to go home and mind his own business, all of which he was prepared to do. but the next time lie met, a farmer who told him that times were bad, he would reply that he did not know what he was talking about. “Can you tell me if I can buy any w’heat in New Zealand?’’ Sir Benjamin asked. “I was commissioned to buy 106,000 English tons of Australian wheat of,fair average quality; I had the money to pav for it, backed b.v a bank guarantee, and I was knocked back. The day before I left Sydney I received another cable from Europe asking whether I had obtained the wheat. All through Australia, the silos are full to overflowing, and ns I motor through the country, all the railway sidings are stacked with wheat. : I could not even get a quote, although I road every day in the papers about quotations. I made all possible inquiries from brokers, from wheat commissions, and everyone else connected with the business, but I will give it up and pass the order on to someone else.”