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.