PREMIER IN ACCIDENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 May 1941, Page 6

PREMIER IN ACCIDENT

CAR SOMERSAULTS IN EGYPT MR FRASER ESCAPES UNHURT. SOME OTHERS INJURED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Acting-Premier (Mr Nash) received word early today from- the Prime Minister (Mi- Fraser), in Cairo, that after visiting Egyptian hospitals and camps he was able to report that men, including some of our soldiers returning from Crete, are all in good heart. Mr Fraser also stated that he had experienced a very serious motor accident. He and the head of the Prime Minister’s Department (Mr C. A. Berendsen) both escaped injury and were quite well. In the accident a burst tyre caused the somersaulting of the car. Rather severe injuries were suffered by Mr Fraser’s private secretary, Mr Jeffrey, and by other occupants, including Brigadier 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 said he had sent to those' who had been injured a message of sympathy and good wishes for their complete recovery, from the Government and 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.