Witnesses Deny Withholding Of News From Press

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22823, 18 December 1948, Page 6

Witnesses Deny Withholding Of News From Press

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 18. Four witnesses for the Crown were heard yesterday by the commission of inquiry investigating the alleged withholding of news of the discovery of the aircraft Kaka.

Evidence by the remaining Crown witness is expected to be completed on Monday after which an adjournment will be taken to January as the inquiry is occupying longer than had been originally anticipated. Senior-Sergeant F. Taylor, Taumarunui, who took charge of tho police activities in connection with the rescue operations following the discovery of the wrecked aircraft on Friday morning, said that, at the start food for the rescue parties was in fairly short supply.

Not to Touch Anything

Before the rescue party set out for the mountain from the Plateau at daylight on Saturday morning he addressed members of the party. He told them as some of them were experienced trampers they would probably reach the aircraft before the police, and in that case they were not to touch anything until the police arrived. He also told the rescue party to give all the information to him. Witness said that Christie, of the Taranaki Daily News, had gone with him from Taumarunui. Christie had volunteered his services and he had sent him up the mountain with the advance party. Christie had reached the aircraft and had done excellent work there and in bringing out the bodies. “He was one of the best workers I had.” said witness. Continuing, Taylor said that 40 of the original rescue party of 80 had had to turn back because the conditions were too tough. About 11.15 a.m. on the Saturday morning about 10 pressmen arrived at the Plateau. One or two of them were properly dressed for the mountain, but the others were not. He had told the pressmen that they could go no further forward, but could remain in the camp and get what information they liked there.

He had told the pressmen that the rescue party was returning. There was only one track, he had no guides to send with them, they were not equipped, and that for their own safety and convenience they should remain at the camp. Apart from that, they had the run of the camp as far as he was concerned. They had no food with them but were supplied. Photographer Reprimanded

Witness said he learnt from Sergeant Carlyon that he had reprimanded a press photographer, a Mr. Hill, -for taking a photograph. He agreed with the course the sergeant had taken. He saw the body he had photographed and thought it better left unphotographed. He had told Hill not to break camp again, as he had done so in going further forward than he was entitled to do. No other photographer made that break.

About 2.30 p.m. on Saturday he called for volunteers for reliefs for the rescue party, but although the pressmen were there none of them volunteered. Mr. W. E. Leicester, for the New Zealand Journalists’ Association: But you said they were not equipped. Witness: They were equipped to go a? far as the snow line. Continuing his evidence, witness said that at no time at the Plateau, or while engaged in the search, had he received any instruction restricting the release of information to the press. Before leaving Taumarunui he had sent word to reporters he knew were at Te Awamutu to hurry and get down to Ohakune. He received an unsolicited letter from the managing editor of the Taranaki Daily News expressing appreciation of the co-operation and help members of that paper had received from him in obtaining information about the discovery of the wreckage and the recovery of the bodies. Very Much Against Pressmen To Mr. Leicester, witness said that the inspector of air accidents, Kean, had made a request that he should not allow anyone to go near the aircraft until the arrival of Kean or the police. Kean was very much against the pressmen.

No member of the rescue party was forbidden to give information to the press under threat of arrest, nor was any instruction given by him to the constables' at Ohakune that they were not to give information to the press. Kean was emphatic that no information should reach (he press as to the times shown on the passengers’ watches. Witness said he had always found the press reasonable. Mr. Leicester: Don't you think you did the press a disservice in refusing them access to the rescue parties?

Witness: They did not need to see them for they knew no more than I did.

Sergeant A. Carlyon, Wanganui, who assisted with the rescue operations, said that when the first body was brought down to the Plateau he observed an Auckland Star reporter interviewing one of the stretcher bearers. He told him that he had better get his information through Senior-Sergeant Taylor, and he said to the stretcher bearer that if he brought any information from the aircraft he should give it to the Senior Sergeant. Fie had not told the reporter that he would be sent away if he asked any questions. Ordered Not to Move

None of the pressmen had approached him or asked him for food. As the party with the first adult body was approaching the camp there was a general movement of the pressmen and others to the body. He said they were to stay where they were and not to photograph the body. I-Io then went up the track to direct the party and found a photographer there. Witness asked him if he had a photograph and when he said he had witness told him lie had better submit it for approval before publication. He took the name and address of the photographer. He did not see the photograph taken and that was all that occurred. He had intervened because the men who had returned to camp asking for relief had informed him that the bodies were badly mutilated. He was afraid that photographs might disclose the injuries and circumstances under which the bodies were being carried out, which were of necessity rather crude. He had received no instructions othet than general instructions given by Senior-Sergeant Taylor. Mr. Leicester: Did you see the National Film Unit taking a film of the bodies coming down the mountain? Witness - No.

“Was nny censorship exercised on the photographs taken by the National Film Unit?—There was no censorship ot photographs after the bodies were straightened out and wrapped.” Army Officer’s Evidence Colonel C. T. Pleasants, commandant at Waiouru, gave details of the Army's assistance offered to the police and accepted following the discovery of the wreckage. On the evening of the day the aircraft was found he visited Cowan’s mill. He bad a discussion with Constable Roscoe and a transport official about people going up the Horo pito track. It was considered that with the weekend there would be a large number of sightseers and that there would be a danger of them going up the mountain, that thev would possibly be lost if the weather deteriorated, and that to prevent that some form ot control should be adopted. Authority was obtained for a picketing scheme at Cowan’s mill. A sentry was told to turn anyone away who did not have a pass from the Ohakune police. Two men, whom he was informed were pressmen, were listening near the radio van and he had to ask them to move away.

When he asked them to leave the area they questioned his authority, and he informed them that he had been