PREMIERES ESCAPE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20568, 30 May 1941, Page 9

PREMIERES ESCAPE

SOMERSAULT OF CAR CAUSED BY BURST TYRE SECRETARY INJURED OTHER OCCUPANTS HURT (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. W. Nash, received word early to-day from the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser in Cairo that after visiting Egyptian hospitals and camps, he was able to report that the men, including some of our boys returning from Crete, are all in good heart.

Mr. Fraser also stated that he experienced a very serious motor accident. He and the head of the Prime Minister’s Department, Mr. A. C. Berendsen, both escaped injury and were quite well. The accident, a burst tyre causing the somersaulting of the car, had, however, caused rather severe injuries to Mr. Fraser’s secretary, Mr. A. C. Jeffrey and to the other occupants, including Brigadier N. S. Falla, who was now making good progress. Mr. Nash stated that he had just received another message this morning stating that Mr. Jeffrey’s condition was also improving. Another passenger, Captain Downes was suffering from minor injuries and shock, while the driver of the car had received a broken thigh and was also suffering from shock. Mr. Nash stated he had sent to those Avho had been injured a message of sympathy and good ivishes for complete recovery from the Government and the people of the Dominion and had expressed on their behalf the relief which would be felt at the escape of the Prime Minister and Mr. Berendsen.