TO KEEP A TAG ON NAMES.

Chronicle (Levin), 5 July 1946, Page 5

TO KEEP A TAG ON NAMES.

SOME PUN IN THE HOUSE. i WELLINGTON, July 4. ' Amusing references to the naining of ATow Zealand. landmarks after proniiii-: enl politieiaTis,; wero, exchangud in the • House of 'Kepresentatives today wlie.n : tlie Xew Zealand Geographie. Board, Bill was introdueed and read a lirst time. The Bill gives statutorv authority to the Geographical Board which has been in existence for ti nnmlier oi', years. | "Does this mean that Labour eelebrities or nonentities are to be ])erpetu-i ttted in the geography of this country, " asked Mr. W. J. Polson (Stratford) who was acting as Leader of tlie Opposition, in iiujuiring for informat ion about the Bill's contents. " \Ve dou't, for instanc.e, want a line. of Mounl Prasers througliout the Dominion." Hon. A. II. Nordmeyer: Wliat about a Polson geyser? Mr. Fraser: Or a Broafoot mudpool? : "The Bill is to avoid wliat the member for Stratford has suggested, for \ve ! don't like' such names as Polson 's Pool ! or Doidgeks Drop," said the yiinister of Lands, Major C. F. Skinner, annd . further laughter. Ile explained tliat ; the Bill gave the right to objeet to 1 names selected by the Geographical Board but the Minister 's decision was! Iinal. Going about New Zealand one could see many inajrpropriate names. However, any contemplated eliange would be advertised in every post offiee of the Dominion for at least three montlis. The Bill provides for a Geographical Board eonsisting of the Surveyor-Gen-eral, two persons representing the Maori race, two liominated by the Federated klountain Clubs of New Zealand, and two others appointed on the reeommendation of the Minrster of Lands. The Board may assign or alter any place name in New Zealand such as town, village, goldfield or mining district, land area or other district, but not a city, borough, country town or road district. Names of railwav stations, post offices or landmarks such as mountains, hills, rivers, lakes and har- . bours, may be altered. t The ftnal decision in respect to a pro- 1 posed name or altefation shall be gazet- 1 ted. Previous deeisions of the liohorary 1 Georgraphical Board of New Zealand! are not affecfed by the Bill. J