CRIPPLED BRITISH SEAMAN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27074, 24 June 1953, Page 6

CRIPPLED BRITISH SEAMAN

Mr Nash Sees Parents Of Mr P. Nee

« ONE OF NX’S HEROES ” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, June 23. The Leader of the New Zealand Opposition (Mr W. Nash) last night kept a promise to a young British seaman who lies in the Christchurch Public Hospital with both legs amputated. Mr Nash called on the young man’s parents, Mr and Mrs Thomas Nee, who closed their little general store at Jarrow. north-west England, to receive him in the parlour. He told them their son. Peter, was one of the heroes of New Zealand for diving into Lyttelton harbour to try to save a dog. He said Peter Nee lost his legs because he was crushed between the ship and the wharf, but the act so fired New Zealanders’ imagination that people contributed £3OOO towards his future. “Ninety-nine cent, of it was a spontaneous gesture of appreciation of heroism,” Mr Nash said.

When Peter Nee learnt that Mr Nash was going to England for the Coronation he said: “Look up the folks back home and tell them I am all right."