OVER THE BANK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20964, 1 March 1930, Page 2

OVER THE BANK.

MR. W. M. HUGHES INJURED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, February 20. The new Australian Party, which, by Ole way, is making rapid progress in all States, nearly lost its captain and crew on Saturday when a motor car driven by the former Prime Minister, Mr W. M. Hughes, went over a bank. Mr Hughes is a notoriously reckless motorist, that is to say, reckless for his own safety. With him it is speed that counts. The energy he puts into his daily life is apparent wherever he goes. He has many but enemies and friends arc willing to pay tribute to his overflowing energy. The accident, and the scenes that followed, and Mr Hughes’s subsequent remarks, were all typical of the mail. With blood dripping from his wounded hand he stood dramatically on the overturned wreck, gloriously happy, so it seemed. He had smashed his car, but he and his companion and first lieutenant, Senator Duncan, had escaped death. But what was more important, ho had an audience. The stage was set. Then spoke the typical Hughes. “ I have smashed cars,” he said, “and I have smashed Governments, hut I am still on top.” Cheers that wore loud and long greeted this statement.

When the car capsized MV Hughes was pinned beneath the steering wheel, and he had to wait until a passing motorist came on the scene before he was released. When he was released, he demanded in mock anger of Senator Duncan: “What the hell did you want to do that for?” Then: “If only Dr Page had been behind us this would have been one of the rare occasions when he would have been useful.” This jibe at the former Treasurer, and one of the bitterest political enemies of Mr Hughes, was also greatly appreciated by the crowd that had gathered in a remarkably short time.

Despite his injuries Mr Hughes demanded that he should be allowed to do the lions share in the work ol righting the car. Ou his arrival in Sydney he explained: “We were endeavouring to annihilate distance but the finger of Providence was clearly demonstrated.” He said that the whole countryside gathered round and endeavoured to render first aid, which lie imagined would be very painful. He did not know exactly what it, was like, but if his friend Senator Duncan’s face was an example of first aid, it was a terror.

Air Hughes reported with pride that SO branches of the new party had been formed in Now South Wales and Victoria alone, although It was less than throe months since the inaugural meeting in Sydney. He claims the party to he. already a definite factor in the political life of the Commonwealth, and says the most significant development is the attraction it has for vouth.