FORCED LANDINGS

Evening Star, Issue 20193, 5 June 1929, Page 9

FORCED LANDINGS

SOUTHERN GROSS AND KOOKABURRA AIR INQUIRY CONTINUED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. . . . SYDNEY, Juno 4. d lie air inquiry was resumed to-day. Air Henry Campbell Jones, editor and director of ‘ Sun ’ Newspapers, gave evidence that there was not the faintest suggestion of an agreement or an understanding that the crow of the Southern Cross should lose themselves and give the exclusive details to the ‘Sun.’ The only agreement was that already tendered relating to remuneration if they beat Hinkler’s record. Witness did not for a moment think it was likely that either Squadron-leader .Kingston! Smith or Flight-lieutenant Ulm would be associated with any prearranged scheme of spectacular flying simply for publicity purposes. Air Ha mniond: Where did the information come from, as published in the ‘Sun,’ that the crew left without emergency rations?

Witness: I, cannot say, but 1 will have immediate inquiries made in my office. He added that lie was so impressed with Flight-lieutenant ■ Ulm’s gilts in regard to organisation that he had offered him control of the ‘Sun’s’ publishing department, but unfortunately ho refused.

W’illiam Crawford, wireless inspector for the Government, said he tested the Southern Cross’s emergency radio set before the (light and found it next to useless. He then made exhaustive tests of the set carried by the Southern Cross and found it most effective. This sot could be converted into a transmitting set with the material carried by the Southern Cross.

Mr Hammond: Could that have been done at Coffee Royal:' Witness: Yes, and if a hand-driven generator had been canned much stronger signals could have been made. Laurence Philips’ motor mechanic, who overhauled Lieutenant Keith Anderson's Kookaburra before its ill-fated flight, said that the compass was efficient before the departure of the machine. It was apparent, however, that the compass failed after leaving Alice Springs, owing to the loss of the tools. Witness impressed on Hitchcock to keep 151 b of tools and spare parts near the compass, therefore their absence prevented the compass from swinging correctly. Further, if Anderson took off from Alice Springs with the big load reported, then lie was 4001 b overloaded. Hitchcock was a very sick man when lie started the flight.

John Garliek. Chief Civic Commissioner and president of the Southern Cross relief fund, produced correspondence with John Cantor, a city publican, who backed Anderson’s flight. Cantor, he said, was asked for details of the secret instructions given to Anderson, but lie regretted to say that Cantor had declined to disclose them. The inquiry was adjourned.