Declaring un-instantiated class makes stage=null. MOST bizzare

1

In my document class I have this

var __w:Who;		
trace(stage);//null

but if I comment out the var I get this

//var __w:Who;		
trace(stage);//[object Stage]

It does not matter where I declare the var __w:Who in the constructor, as a class var or in another function entirely.

The whole thing still operates normally but it’s irritating not being able to set my stage.align=StageAlign.TOP_LEFT; in the constructor…

I am guessing it is something in my Who class because it does not happen if I declare any other vars

the constructor in Who pretty basic:

	public function Who():void
	/*CONSTRUCTOR*/
	{
		var u:URLLoader;/*load xml or title links*/
		
		u=new URLLoader();
		u.load(new URLRequest('XML/Who.xml'));
		u.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE,PX);
		
		th=new Sprite();
		addChild(th);
	}

I’m open to any suggestions on this… Something obvious I’m missing ?