PROTESTS BY FARMERS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29240, 25 June 1960, Page 12

PROTESTS BY FARMERS

Land For Oil . Refinery

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 24 Twenty-five MatingaraW farmers are concerned over the Government’s proposal for an oil refinery, a meeting of the Auckland, central sub-province of Federated Farmers was told today. Matingarahi, a coastal fanning area between Orere and Kaiaua on the west side of the Firth of Thames, is 43 miles from Auckland by road. Two telegrams were received by the meeting from farmers protesting against the Government’s notice of intention to carry out investigations on their properties. The meeting decided to ask the Government for an assurance that all rights of farmers in the area would be preserved. It will also tell the Government that the fanners are “in a state of consternation.”

The chairman (Mr A R. Hughes) said he knew the Government had told Mrs Noel Adams, the owner of a 3000-acre farm in the area, that it may take 450 acres of her land.

This 450 acres was the only part of the farm where haymaking, drafting and yarding could be done, said Mr Hughes, who claimed that without it the farm could become uneconomic.

Other farmers objected strongly to public servants walking over their farms on survey work.

Mrs Adams’ farm was not the only one from which the Government wantpd to take a large part, he said. Fears were held that other farms would also be turned into uneconomic units.

Mr C. J. Lovegrove said that if an oil refinery was established in the area, the farmers would get a fair deal—compensation for production loss. • Another member said the Government should be made to take over whole farms, not the choice flat sections of them, and give compensation.