GENESIS OF RUMOURS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 130, 6 June 1929, Page 11

GENESIS OF RUMOURS

lILM'S JOKE IN HOTEL

INTERESTING SIDELIGHTS

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, sth June. The inquiry into the forced landings • of the Southern Cross and the Kookaburra was resumed to-day.; James. Portus, assistant manager to the Shell Oil Company, gave evidence that a couple of years before the Southern- Cross flight Ulm had a conversation with witness at Cantor's Hotel, Sydney. Ulm then suggested as a means of. focus in public attention on . some proposed flight that wireless should be installed on an aeroplane, and they should get lost in Central Australia. Witness' then was publicity man for. Shell products. Mr. Hammond: "Was anything said . about getting found?" .' ... Witness: "No." Mr. Hammond: "\Vas any money proposition mentioned—what it would be worth to your company to use your oil to rescue them?" Witness: "Never on any occasion. I treated the whale matter asia joke." TALK TWO YEARS AGO. Mr. Cassidy, appearing for Smith; and. Ulm: "When did this conversation ; take place?" ... ■ :' : ' Portus replied: "In May, 1927, at Cantor's Hotel." . ; . Mr, Cassidy: "Was anybody else present?" '■ Portus: "1 have an idea that Kingsford Smith was there." Witness added that he did not think that Cantor was there, nor Anderson. The Chairman: "Did you tell anybody else about it?" . . Portus: "I told Cantor." William Maunder, a close friend of Cantor, gave evidence that he witnessed the agreement between Cantor and Anderson relating to the search for the Southern Cross. Witness heard Anderson say that he believed the lost crew were somewhere in the vicinity of the • Port George Mission. Witness thought Cantor's idea m insisting that Anderson should not disclose-details of his search except to Cantor, was bec.ause Cantor objected to one newspaper getting exclusive information, Cantor believing that, all the papers should share alike simultaneously. JOHN CANTOR'S EVIDENCE. r John Cantor, of Sydney, said that when he learned that the Southern Cr'o6B was missing he telephoned to tho. Atlantic Oil people offering to con-' tribute towards the cost of a search aeroplane, as Smith and Ulm were both good-friends of his. Later, Anderson 6aw witness and told him he was prepared to join in the search; in fact, he was dead keen to do so, on account of the old friendship. Witness agreed to pay Anderson £500, and Anderson •; agreed to pay Hitchcock £100 if the flight was successful. Anderson told witness, that he thought the lost aviators were in the Port George Mission region, -and that the searchers were looking in the wrong quarter. Mr. Hammond: "You are the man who was suggesting in the Press that the Federal Government should give £5000 to the aviator who found the Southern Cross?" ■ Witness: "Yes." • Mr. Hammond: ".Was.it after that you made your -arrangement with Anderson?'' Witness: "Yes." Witness said that" he never insisted on sealed orders or instructions with Anderson. Witness, had never had a conversation with Portus about Ulm wanting to lose himself in the centre of Australia for a week for £600, but he had overheard such a statement in the bar. ■. ■ •■;•■■ „.' ..- ; NOT PURE IMAGINATION. Mr. Hammond: "Then all the evidence about sealed instructions and ■ UJm's proposal to .get lost is pure imagination?" Witness: "I cannot put it that: :,. way.;" '.■■'. ' „'.:■' '■ ' Cantor said that Ms agreement with Anderson gave him a monopoly of the news from thte Kookaburra, but it was s .his intention to give the news to all .the newspapers simultaneously, with.out liability. Witness had seen a letter' for Anderson the day before he left from the "Sun" newspaper authorising Anderson to send 400 words per, .day at the "Sun'sV expense. Dr. Hamilton, who saw the Southern Cross crew eleven days,after they were found, gave that they .apparently had been through/ a trying time. The inquiry was adjourned.