AVIATION INQUIRY

Southland Times, Issue 20792, 5 June 1929, Page 5

AVIATION INQUIRY

SOUTHERN CROSS CASE

PRE-ARRANGED LANDING DENIED

SYDNEY EDITOR’S .EVIDENCE

(United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 7.35 p.m.) Sydney, June 4. The inquiry into the forced landings of the Southern -Cross and the Kookaburra was resumed to-day. Henry Campbell-Jones, editor and director of Sun Newspapers, gave evidence that there was pot the faintest suggestion of an agreement or understanding that the crew of the Southern Cross should lose themselves and give exclusive details to the Sun. The only agreement wao that already tendered relating to remuneration if they beat Hinkler’s record. Witness did not for a moment think it likely that either Kingsford Smith or Ulm would be associated with any pre-arranged scheme of spectacular flying simplv for publicity purposes. Mr. Hammond: Where did the information conic from as published in the Sun that the crew left without emergency .rations?—l cannot say, but I will have immediate inquiries made in my office. Mr. Campbell-Jones added that he was so impressed with Dim’s gifts in regard to organization that he had offered him control of the Sun’s publishing department, but unfortunately Ulm. refused. William Crawford, wireless inspector for the Government, said he tested the Southern Cross’s emergency radio set before the flight and found it next to useless. Witness then made exhaustive tests of the set carried by the Southern Cross and found it most effective. This set 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?”—Acs, and if a hand driven generator had been carried much stronger signals could have been made. The Kookaburra’s Compass. Lawrence Phipps, motor mechanic, who overhauled 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 tools, (which were reported to have been stolen). Witness impressed on Hitchcock to keep fifteen pounds of tools and spare parts near the compass,, therefore their, absence prevented the compass swinging correctly. Further, if Anderson took off from Alice Springs with the big load reported then he was 430 lbs overloaded. Hitchcock was a very sick man when he started the flight. John Garlic, Chief Civic .Commissioner and president of the Southern Cross relief Fund, produced correspondence with Mr. 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 he regretted to say that Cantor had declined to disclose them. The inquiry was adjourned.—Australian Press Association.