BIG CAPITAL IN NEW ORGANISATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19060, 3 May 1930, Page 9

BIG CAPITAL IN NEW ORGANISATION.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. INTERESTS COMBINED

Sir Benjamin Fuller to-day confirmed a Wellington message that Fullers have completed arrangements to acquire the sole interests of the FullerHay ward organisation and that a capital of about £4,000,000 is concerned. The sum seems large, but Sir Benjamin explains that it does not represent New Zealand business alone. It. includes the firm’s Australian businesses and businesses associated with Fullers, and it will stand mostly for real estate, such as land and theatre buildings. Reorganisation has been made necessary by the fact that Fullers had practically abandoned the stage for the time being. With the Australian theatres turned into film talkies, Sir Benjamin said, there would be an Australian and New Zealand combination, and they would be able to give all their attention to that type of entertainment. Economies would be effected, resulting in benefit all round—better shows, better theatres, more satisfaction to the proprietary, and, it was hoped, lower prices of admission. Speaking of the manufacture of talkie films, Sir Benjamin said that Fullers were not yet manufacturing talkies, but it would come in time. While, naturally, they favoured the British production, all things being equal, they realised that they were the servants of the public. If the public demanded American films, their wishes must be met. As a matter of fact, the so-called American films had a great deal of British capital, and many of the executives that controlled them had Britishers as members. As none of the stages w;ould be dismantled, they could be used for ordinary stage productions. Sir Benjamin said that Fullers always had had good support from the newspapers, which did not hesitate to draw attention to possible improvements. He always was pleased to consider any suggestion to improve his theatres and the industry generally. Sir Benjamin left for Ashburton by the midday express. This afternoon he will visit two theatres there. This evening, he will see Timaru theatres, and will go on to theatres in Oamaru, Dunedin and Invercargill.