PALMERSTON NORTH OR MANAWATU?

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3617, 24 March 1927, Page 3

PALMERSTON NORTH OR MANAWATU?

The Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce at its last meeting decided to urge upon the Palmerston Borough Council the necessity of changing the name of the town from Palmerston North to Manawatu. The President, Mr. M. A. Elliott, summarised the position as follows: Points in favour (1) avoidance of mistakes and delays in delivery of cables, telegrams and mails; (2) elimination of confusion and loss in wrongful delivery of goods from ahrond; (3) the secondary position Palmerston North occupies in the minds of persons abroad, who believe that Palmerston North is merely a suburb or part of Palmerston, would be avoided; (4) Palmerston North was the capital of the district and it was fitting that the town should bear the name of the district and river on whose banks it stood. The town would soon be a city, an opportune date for a change in name; (5) there was no legal or other difficulties in making the change—merely a proclamation by the Government was needed. Points against —(1) Only one Palmerston North. Mr. Elliott added that there would also be only one Manawatu whereas there were five Palmerstons in the world; (2) Manawatu was also the name of the district and county but that also applied to Auckland, Wellington, Napier, Wanganui and many other places. Mr. Elliott thought that in order to gel an expression of opinion on the" mat ter, the various business places should be approached and asked to vote on the question. When the referendum was taken and the result obtained then further Stops could he taken, if necessary. Mr. -L M. .Johnston said originally the town was called “Palmerston” and the “North” was subsequently added to distinguish it from the town of the same name in Otago. Mr. Johnston stressed the argument that the word “North” suggested to people at Home that the town was but a suburb. ■ Mr. Stevens remarked that business men had no idea of the trouble that was experienced by the Postal Department in having to re-direct telegrams. He also urged the adoption of Manawatu as the new name as it was the general trend at the present time to adopt the original Maori name. Mr. O’Shea, (stationmaster) remarked that the Railway Department would welcome the change. Mr. Dawson (Postmaster) stated that the change would do away with a good deal of confusion for the Postal Department. It was eventually decided to re commend the Borough Council to apply for the change and a suggestion from Mr. J. H. Stevens, that the proposed alteration should be brought before the Nomenclature Commission, was also adopted.