Coromandel campaign

Press, 27 December 1980, Page 1

Coromandel campaign

PA 1 Hamilton The' Coromandel Peninsula Watchdog Committee seeks the support of thousands of holidaymakers. on the peninsula this summer in its ■ fight, against multi-.-, natiohal-..’ mining ■- . comThe committee has been preparing as much irifor- ? nation• as possible for holidaymakers —■ up to 200,00 Q *re expected on the peninsula —■. and hopes to raise money to continue the ‘ watchdog

According to the publicity i officer, Mr P. Verschaffelt, the committee •.Will — Aim to collect about .20,000 signatures on a pe'tition calling for the re-, form of the Mining'Act ter i protect the peninsulaagainst its provisions; / :i — ; . Distribute thousands of - - brochures explaining the impact large-scale mining . would have on Coromandel Peninsula; ; * — Put on campaign , displaysim Thames, Colville, s.and.Whitianga; j'S ■ - > — Raffle •30 pieces of

pottery, exhibited at Coromandel and Whitianga, and made by some of the peninsula’s best-known potters, including the . internationally acclaimed Barry Bnckell; and y —Sell posters,/bumper • stickers, and even a 45 r.p.nv record-with a. protest song called, “Can You Dig It?” by. the Coroglenbased. group, Tribrations. Mr Verschaffeltsaid the committee hoped to present the petition to the Parliamentary .Petitions’ ’ Committee as soon as Par-

liament resumes next year. ? ' Gold mining would be a big issue in next year’s General Election for the marginal Hauraki electorate, where National faces a strong Social Credit challenge, said Mr Verschaffelt. While the committee campaigns among the holidaymakers, at least one of the mining multi-nationals, Exploration. (N.Z.), Inc., will open its workings at .Waihi’s Martha Hill to the public. _. , -