AIR EXPEDITION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 237, 6 October 1932, Page 7

AIR EXPEDITION.

British Attempt on Everest

Being Financed.

LADY HOUSTON'S GIFT. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 5. Lady Houston, the British philanthropist, has accepted full financial responsibility for the Britkh air expedition to Mount Everest, which is to be made under the command of the Marquess of Clydesdale, the noted airman and former amateur boxer. Douglaa Douglas-Hamilton, Marqueee of Douglas and Clydesdale, heir to the Duke of Hamilton, and one-time amateur boxing champion of Scotland, wae selected as the pilot of the two-seater aeroplane which is to attempt a flight over the 29,000 ft peak of Mount Everest. The Marquess, who is a Royal Air Force pilot, intended to set out from India this month, accompanied only by a photographer, and carrying electrically-heated flying suits and oxygencontainers. The plan was organised by Colonef P. T. Etherton, one of ittae world's moat confirmed globe-trottere, and a great authority on Asia.

Lady Houston, who is financing the party, is the widow of the ninth. Lord Byron, and also of Sir Robert Houston, Bt., on whose death ehe inherited his huge ehipping fortune, said to be approximately £7,000,000. As Sir Robert had lived in Jersey, where taxation laws differ considerably from those of Britain his widow fought the Imperial Government's Court action to recover the huge death duties alleged to be due. However, she settled the dispute in 1927 by paying £1,500,000 to the Exchequer as "an act of grace." Since then she has assisted various people and societies in different ways, even offering the Chancellor in April of this year a sum of £200,000 as the nucleus of a fund ito bring the Royal Navy up to date. This was declined, but ,ehe later gave the Exchequer £40,000 as voluntary taxation on her income. It was Lady Houston's generosity which enabled the British Government to prepare the 'planes and pilots to retain the Schneider Cu.p a year ago. She haa always been a keen suffragist, and is listed among tlie first five Dames of the British Empire.