Police Interview Photographer

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30177, 8 July 1963, Page 12

Police Interview Photographer

(New Zealand Press Association)

TAURANGA, July 6. A professional photographer and a companion, who entered the Kaimai bush early yesterday morning and reached the burnt out Skyliner aircraft shortly after the first official party, were interviewed by police and Search and Rescue Organisation officers after they had been flown back to search headquarters at the Gordon quarry.

Among those who spoke to the men, Messrs M. Peacock, of Taumarunui, and R. Woolston, of Matiere. when they alighted from the helicopter, were Inspector T. L. Doole. of Tauranga. and Mr Barry Spring-Rice, search controller at Gordon.

Mr Peacock told journalists at (the quarry later that he had surrendered his supply of ohotographic plates to the police at their request He and his companion said they were told they would be required to pay the cost of flying them out from the crash scene and that charges probably would be laid against them.

They said they had endeavoured to enter the bush

on Wednesday. They were equipped and prepared to stay overnight if necessary. However, they were turned back. Early yesterday morning they entered the bush south of search headquarters and trekked through the bush toward the point where it had been announced officially that the wreck was lying. Mr Peacock said he photographed the burnt-out airliner and the crash scene.

“I had no interest in photographing anything which might give offence,” he said He added that he had previously photographed other disasters, including the Tangiwai train wreck.

Accredited journalists and press photographers at the Gordon quarry were told yesterday morning that the only means of access to the crash scene was by helicopter. Two press photographers were taken over the scene in helicopters during the day to obtain “pool” shots of the crashed plane.