PRIME MINISTER

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 262, 3 August 1939, Page 8

PRIME MINISTER

Abdominal Operation Necessary TO ENTER HOSPITAL TODAY Sympathy Of Members Of Parliament Acting on medical advice, the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, will enter the Little Company of Mary Hospital (Lewisham) today for an abdominal operation. Immediately the House of Representatives met yesterday afternoon members were informed by the Deputy-Leader of the Government, Mr. Fraser, that the Prime Minister was to undergo an operation. Mr. Fraser and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Hamilton, both expressed the sincere hope that Mr. Savage would make a speedy recovery.

After stating that the operation on Mr. Savage would necessitate a period of treatment, and rest, Mr. Fraser said be knew the announcement would l>e received with feelings of sympathy and regret by all members of the House and by the people of the country. He felt sure that everybody would wish the Prime Minister a speedy recovery, enabling him to resume his administrative duties soon. “I am familiar with the condition of the Prime Minister during the past fortnight,” Mr. Fraser continued, “and I know how he struggled on against odds to discharge the high and responsible duties of his office, and how he has been compelled under medicaladvice to relinquish his post temporarily. After a period of sickness, and with the knowledge of the imminent necessity for an operation, he considered it his duty to come to the House last evening and personally present the Budget. With the full knowledge of the circumstances, I can only express my sincere admiration for the man who, from a high sense of public duty'and of what he owed to the country at such a critical period, sot aside his own personal convenience, comfort and safety.” Mr. Hamilton said that members of the Opposition had learned with sincere regret of the Prime Minister’s illness. “I know something of the difficulties of going into hospital for a serious operation,” added Mr. Hamilton, “and I desire on behalf of the Opposition to join with the Actingleader of the House in expressing the sympathy of the whole House with Mr. Savage in what I hope will involve just a temporary absence from bis official duties. We hope the Prime Minister will have * speedy recovery and soon be back in the House once more.”