TEST OF ENDURANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 104, 1 May 1920, Page 12

TEST OF ENDURANCE.

PREMIER'S FIGHT AGAINST FATKHT.. i i (By Telegratfli.—Special to "Star."") , WELLINGTON, Friday. < Mr. Massey performed quite a feat of ' endurance "in his long motor journey ' from Rotorua to Wellington via Taup'o . and CSTapior to settle the railway trouble. The weather was particularly bad ' throughout, andi.the roads' were execrable. J ThejouTneywascommencedina 40 horse power car at midnight on Wednesday, ' and the mountainous road between Tara- ; wera and Napier was negotiated in '. darkness and heavy rain. The highways ; were extremely rough, and in places were ) covered with sheets of -water. Napier : wa s left at 0 o'clock on Thursday morning. Near Dannevirke, • where the road ' lips into several deep gullies, ' engine ! trouble developed -the only mishap , during the long journey—but, after a delay of three-quarters of an hour , another car came along, and with the assistance thins available, repairs were soon effected, and -the journey .to Wei- ' ling-t-on wa s continued. Tho actual ' running time between 'Napier and Wellington was nine hours. With the ex- '. ception of having contracted a severe cold. Mi*. Massey appears none the worse for .his experience, but when he arrived last nigh.t Im was •terribly tired, and adraitted it, though refusing a suggestion from a colleague to put off the railwaymen's interviews till next duy. lie first , spent an hour with tho Amalgamated . Executive, and appeare,-] quite freshened up when this was over, possibly owing to , the fact, as since published, that ho had discovered a way out of the big -problem. ; His next interview wa* with the Locomotive Association. This was brief, as . the men wanted to discuss details. Mr. Massey was physically unable to follow under the cireumsta.n but some 1""°" ." gres »a. made on tin 'eneral principles j ] of leaving the -rest " :■ un adjournedj! conference to-day. I- ina.lly ho spared.' timo for a.delegation from the Officere'l, Ir-Sbitute, -who.asked for an assurance tol its-membere tha.t they would not be prc-j. judiced through refusal to perform I special strike duty. Mr. Ma.s-.cy. in spite. of this strenuous day. was ."i£nirc at the' office soon after nine ncxit morning, and continued confererr-cs hill late this evening.