At this point it is necessary to mention a different suggestion which
was also rejected by Captain Gemmell. It was put to him during
cross-examination that he had carried back from McMurdo a blue plastic
envelope containing personal property recovered from the accident site.
In evidence given later by First Officer Rhodes the envelope was
supposed to have been entrusted to Captain Gemmell by Mr Chippindale for
delivery in New Zealand since Captain Gemmell was about to depart from
the base several days before the others. First Officer Rhodes had
himself been in Antarctica as a member of Mr Chippindale's investigation
team, representing there the Airline Pilots Association. He appeared as
a witness before the Royal Commission on two occasions. During his first
appearance he was called by the Association. He did not refer then to a
blue envelope; but because it was thought that the material may have
been mentioned by him to the Association's counsel he was recalled to
give evidence, this time by counsel for the airline.
Before turning to the evidence given by First Officer Rhodes during his
second appearance it is worthwhile making a preliminary comment. No
complaint has ever been made by Mr Chippindale about a missing blue
envelope or papers within it. If Captain Gemmell had been entrusted with
such a mission which he had failed to discharge Mr Chippindale would
seem to be the first person who would want to know why. He himself gave
evidence before the Royal Commission for a period of ten days and during
all that time he was never asked about this matter. Nor was he recalled
to deal with it after it had been raised with Captain Gemmell or after
First Officer Rhodes gave his further evidence. That fact alone might be
thought sufficient to dispose of the matter. And in the end the
Commissioner himself decided that neither this nor other evidence could
justify a finding against Captain Gemmell that he "recovered documents
from Antarctica which were relevant to the fatal flight, and which he
did not account for to the proper authorities".
It is necessary to describe all this because the second appearance of
First Officer Rhodes resulted in a finding in paragraph 348 of the Royal
Commission Report which reflects seriously upon the conduct of another
executive officer of the airline, Captain Eden. The paragraph is another
of those challenged in the present proceedings.
It seems that First Officer Rhodes agreed to give evidence on the second
occasion in order to remove any false impression that he himself doubted
the integrity of Captain Gemmell. The following extract from the
transcript explains the position (a condensed version appears in
paragraph 347 of the Report):
"You've already given evidence and stated your qualification. I
think you have offered to give some supplementary evidence relating
to activity at the Erebus crash site ... Our discussion with Capt.
Eden last Friday indicated this would be appreciated.
I think just as Capt. Gemmell was there representing the co. you
were there as a rep. of ALPA.... Thats correct.
May we take it that you worked in conjunction with Capt. Gemmell
and other members of the team involved.... Correct.
And in so doing you were present at the crash site with Capt.
Gemmell.... No we had different tasks as I was in the area with
Capt. Gemmell at some stages.
So far as your observations are concerned what would you have to
say regarding Capt. Gemmell's conduct and behaviour in the course
of his duties there.... I have no reason to doubt Capt. Gemmell in
any way shape or form.