AVIATORS' BACKER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 134, 8 June 1928, Page 7

AVIATORS' BACKER.

Taken Up By American Capitalist When "Broke." CREW GET ALL GAINS. * (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received 10.30 a.m.) LOS ANGELES, June 7. Duly the four members of the crew of the Southern Cross will share in the profit resulting from the flight, it was stated on behalf of Mr. Allan Hancock, their backer, to-day. Mr. Raymond Stephens, Mr. Hancock's attorney, explained that his client desires no personal gain from the flight. He said a Los Angeles capitalist gave assistance only to further the development of aerial navigation and in admiration of the perseverance of Captain Smith and Mr. Ulm. Mr. Hancock sailed for Mexico the day the Southern Cross took off from Oakland. He was not then aware that his connection with the flight was to become public, but he wirelessed his permission to-day that his association be explained.

The statement by Mr. Stephens revealed that the aviators, Captain Smith and Mr. Ulm deprived of the backing which they expected when they left Australia, found themselves stranded with the plane mortgaged, to stay within the boundaries of California, also withinsufficient equipment and numerous debts. Captain Smith and Mr. Ulm met Mr. Hancock through Mr. Andrew Chaffev, a Los Anjzelcs bank president. Mr. Hancock immediately became interested in the flyers, and took a short flight with them. He then advanced the necessary funds for the project.

START UNCERTAIN. PROBABLY ABOUT 2.30. (Auafraliiin and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received p.m.) SUVA, this day. The Southern Cross is expected to hop off at 2.30, or probably Hter, as the tide i* not low enough. They have taken aboard 700 gallons of petrol and have about 800 in the tanks altogether. The aviators had a night's rest aboard the steamer Pioneer. The visibility was low last night and that is one of the reasons why the flight was postponed. It would have beer dark before they got off. ROUND WORLD FLIGHT. KINGSFORD SMITH'S AMBITION (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received 11 a.m.) SAN* FRANCISCO, June 7. Mr. (iirard McGraven, chief mechanician for the Southern Cross while the 'plane was at the Oakland airport, said that Captain Kingsford Smith discussed with him his ambition to fly around the world, provided that the Australian venture proved successful. Should he do so he would continue the flight from Brisbane,