AIR INQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1929, Page 6

AIR INQUIRY

ULM’S DENIAL

ABOUT GETTING LOST

(Australian Press Association)

SYDNEY, June G. The Air Inquiry was resumed today.

Charlie Ultn was recalled, and was questioned about Portus’ allegation yesterday. Ulm said that he had never at any time suggested to Portus that lie should undertake a flight round Australia and get lost for publicity purposes. Such a statement was not even made as a joke. Ulm added that when the flight round Australia was mentioned a couple of years ago, Portus was always putting him off, and procrastinating, and was unable to say definitely whether the Shell Company would stand behind such a venture.

“in other words, 1 did not trust him,” said Ulm, who said that he then approached another company, and this time successfully.

Ulm, in accordance with the promise""'made earlier at the inquiry, submitted a number of proposals for the better control of long distance exploratory Higlits, tbe chief of which was that honorary advisers should be appointed to assist aviators of this type. ' ANDERSON’S ANTICIPATION.

■William Sutherland, of the. Vacuum Oil Company, related a conversation he had with Keith Aimerson before the latter began tbe search. Witness asked Anderson where be thought the Southern Cross had come down. Adderson marked 011 a six loot map in witness’s office a spot which proved approximately within only a lew hundred yards of where the Southern Cross was actually found. Witness had also marked a spot, which had proved to be one hundred and twenty miles wrong. A third party s pin pointed out a spot nearer to Darwin.

Witness undertook to produce this map. Ulm, being recalled, said that the spot allegedly marked, or indicated, by Anderson, was at least one hundred 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 the Port George Mission, read letters which he received from the Rev. Goo. Baird .of that mission, in which the writer described the country between the Mission and where he found the Southern Cross crew in a. starving, condition. Rev Baird stated -he had walked both ways. Leaving the Mission at 9 a.m. he reached the marooned mjen at 3.30 p.lll. He described the aviators as fools to- undertake a (light- over that territory during the rainy season, with the countryside all swamp, mud and glue.- The grass was Bft. high in the vicinity of the Mission. THE EVIDENCE CONCLUDES SYDNEY. June G. At the Air Inquiry. Kingston! Smith to-day gave evidence. Pie said that lie 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 lias now closed, and counsel are addressing the committee. The sitting was to-day adjourned. Tbe report will be ready in a few days.