ETTING-LOST IDEA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 690, 15 June 1929, Page 9

ETTING-LOST IDEA

ANOTHER STORY ABOUT ULM’S TALK

SOUTHERN CROSS INQUIRY SYDNEY, Friday. An account of an alleged conversation witli Ulm and Smitli before their flight round Australia, in which Ulm said that one way to get publicity would be to get lost in the wilds of Australia, was related to the Air Inquiry Committee by Studiey Lush, manager of the Neptune Oil Company. Under cross-examination, Lush said: “Ulm never made any concrete proposal that they should get lost.” Lush said that U«»m in 1927 had asked his company to supply oil for the proposed flight around Australia. Lush finally referred Ulm to the Shell Oil Company. Many conversations occurred about aviation, and the question of attracting attention to the flight was diseusesd during one of these.

Ulm suggested that it would be a good thing to get lost in the wilds somewhere. Lush replied that that would be no good while they were using his oil. The witness said he treated the matter as a joke. The witness added that it was against his will that he gave evidence about this incident, which was within the knowledge of his general manager. Ulni, who was recalled, said no suggestion about getting lost was ever mentioned. As a matter of fact, all the negotiations with Lush were contained in letters that were before the committee.

Kingsford Smith declared that no statement of this sort was made by Ulm while he was in Lush’s company. The chairman announced that they hoped to complete their report today.