EASTERN WHEAT SCANDALS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17889, 17 September 1921, Page 7

EASTERN WHEAT SCANDALS

RECOVERY OF GEORGESON. A. and N.Z. SYDNEY. Sept. 16. The New South Wales Cabinet is to consider the position of G. Georgeson, who was alleged to be concerned in the Eastern wheat scandals of 1919, following the decision of the Court that he is no longer of unsound mind, and is fit to his own affairs. As the Royal Commission of Inquiry is still open, Mr. Justice Pring may call Georgeson to give evidence, independent of action by the Government.

The "great wheat scandal of 1919 ,r is certain to have a definite place in Australian history. All the wheat in New South Wales—as in other Statesfrom 1915 onwards was put into a pool, and the State pools were grouped in a Commonwealth pool. The Commonwealth Government sold the good wheat and distributed the money in a fair basis among the growers. The inferior wheat was disposed of by the officials of the State pools, or, by organisations which they controlled 'or were associated with. Toward the close of 1918 rumours began to gain widespread currency that large fortunes were being made by those who were handling wheat from the Government pool, and the scandal grew to such proportions that a Royal Commission of Inquiry was appointed in 1919. The report of this commission was inconclusive, and a further inquiry was ordered. In the meantime Georgeson, who is alleged to have made the largest fortune out of dealings in inferior wheat which he sold to Japan, suffered a physical and mental breakdown, and has been unable to give evidence before the commission.