AVIATION INQUIRY

Southland Times, Issue 20794, 7 June 1929, Page 7

AVIATION INQUIRY

EVIDENCE COMPLETED

PUBLICITY ALLEGATIONS DENIED REPORT EXPECTED SHORTLY (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph-Copyright.) (Rec. 7.45 p.m.) Sydney, June .6. The inquiry into the forced landings of the Southern Cross and the Kookaburra was resumed to-day. Charles Ulm, was recalled and questioned about Mr. Portus’s allegation yesterday. He said he never at any time suggested to Portus that he should undertake a flight round Australia and get lost for publicity purposes. Such a statement was not even made as a joke. Ulm adder! that when the flight round Australia was mentioned a couple of years ago Portus was always putting him off, procrastinating and unable to say definitely whether the Shell Company would stand behind such a venture. “In other words I did not trust him,” said Ulm, who then approached another company this time successfully. Ulin, in accordance with his promise made earlier at the inquiry, submitted a number of proposals for better control of long distance exploratory flights, the chief of which was that honorary advisors should be appointed to assist aviators of this type. William Sutherland, of the Vacuum Oil Company, related a conversation with Keith Anderson before the latter began the search. Witness asked Anderson where he thought the Southern Cross had come down. Anderson marked on a six-foot map in witness’ office a spot which proved approximately within a few hundred yards of where the Southern Cross was actually found. Witness also marked a spot, which proved to be 120 miles wrong. A third party pin-pointed a spot nearer Darwin. Witness undertook to produce this map. Ulm, recalled, said the spot allegedly marked or indicated by Anderson was at least 100 miles from where they were forced down.

Wing Commander Wackett gave the committee many suggestions about the type of radio gear needed for long distance aviators. He produced a set, carried in a haversack, which had been in touch with Auckland.

Norman Paul, a former resident of Port George Mission read the letters received from the }!ev. George Baird of the Mission in which the writer described the country between the mission and where he found the Southern Cross’s crew in a starving condition. Baird walked both ways. Leaving the mission at 9 a.m. he reached the marooned men at 3.30 p.m. He described the aviators as fools to undertake a flight over that territory during the rainy season with the countryside all swamp, mud and glue grass eight feet high in the vicinity of the mission.

Squadron Leader Kingsford Smith in evidence said he had no recollection of a conversation in Cantor’s hotel, in which Ulm suggested to Portus that he and Ulm should lose themselves in Central Australia. The evidence has now closed and counsel tire addressing the committee. The sitting was adjourned. A report will be ready in a few davs.—Australian Press Association.