FERTILISER WORKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16584, 6 July 1917, Page 6

FERTILISER WORKS.

■♦ ■ THE SITE AT PENROSE. ■POSITION OF TJHE company.. The opposition to tjio^" proposed erection by the New Zealand /Farmers': Fertiliser Company of fertiliser' manufacturing works at Penrose was the subject of statements yesterday by . Mr. T. W.\ Deakes, ' secretary, ■ and Mr. A. X. Boss, chairman of directors, of ; the .■..'company.'' ■' '•*•;". Mr, JDeakcs said the company had evidence -that at least seven-eighths of tho property-owners within - a mile : radius of they proposed fork's were not opposed to the establishment' of the industry.:'" Per. sistent efforts, however, were being made to lead residents living within 'a" five-mile radius of the proposed works to believe that a... nuisance would be ""created -that would detrimental "''.to health f and property. '/•' "It has been ancertaincd,", continued '; Mr. *peakes] "that well-paid canvassers havo r bean "employed to secure signatures to the ■ petition •or protest, and this is >; without - doubt ':* responsible •: for the energy 1 with which > the petitions have been pushod. 'At' the same time, I am convinced that if a true statement;of the case was 'placed before the residents concerned they would not have-signed:''a petition,, and, would : have : on"pre.d no opposition whatever ' to the erection of tho works. - - The ' directors of '' the ■* company had'-themselves to ,be satisfied that no nuisance ; would } be \ 'created before they entered , into'negotiations' to secure tho proposed site at'Penrose. Opinions were secured from leading scientific exports in the:: Dominion, > who < have ' all '* expressed themselves favourably, w after • taking the full; facts into consideration. i They state .definitely/'that';'tlib;. industry will not . affect -in ' any,' way anyone in > the nasi'deatial 'areas .' of Penrose, BUerslio,-'o,' Mount Wellington districts, ';■ \ ■'•'. * ' ■ ''" Tho J members of . One-Tree Hill Road : Board, together with the directors of the company, visited Penrose for the' purpose ■ of.- inspecting 'the ■•■. site and'. meeting the residents to ;> discuss jobjections. " Tho - number of 1 objectingpresidents' present was ' four, two ' residing fin * the One-tree .Hill district' and two from an adjoining dig" trict. Although they : ; have had" ample ■ opportunity to bring . < forward scientific data to substantiate their statements and ; back tho petitJtmTlothirtg'of this kind has ' been : produced,, and | no. reasonable argument against the establishment of the works ; has ; . yet been forthcoming. , Jt has. been 'Stated, that the galvanised iron 'roofing wit} be" discoloured in the vicinity of thjj works? but- buildings ': constructed of i this material in' the, vicinity of ; other similar worfcs have not been /in:.- any 'way affected. r; Tho 1 * directors feel that the sound : evidence produced that the : 'works will- not .injure either the-health "or " tho ; property of .those in the. neighbourhood is sufficient to' justify the Road Board granting 'the company permission to,/make an immediate commencement with', the erec- > tion '6? r the works."9-."A* ■'''•' """' '.''''"■ : ' ,Mr Boss said. was quite satisfied no ■ injury' to - "public'health' nor any depreciation of. property could be caused'' by the establishment of the '1 works : at -Penrose". ' The".' question 7 was " one, however, ■ which ■ might be Rooked at from. a- wide : point 'of view. He /could -say unhesitatingly '.-• that the ■ supply of * fertilisers-was', the bottom i of .all: the 1 •prosperity .; o;f the - province, : There were millions of acres'of • land which would hot be worth' owning except for fertilisers;' Serious-interference' with ■ tho • supply-might ■-have the effect of making a city of the size of Auckland shrink .'into ; insignificance owing to-lack of produce. If the-farmers-of-the province) : howover,' were assured of an adequate supply of fertilisers./ at a reasonable .;price it"'was > going be of incalculable* benefit, 'not only-to the farmine community,' 1 but also , to the City of Auckland. He 'hoped that ? this 'aspect would;' not bo overlooked; ?"•'