PALMERSTON’S NAME

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3640, 19 May 1927, Page 3

PALMERSTON’S NAME

FURTHER OPPOSITION TO

“MANAWATU.”

The action which bad been taken by many local bodies in districts adjacent to Palmerston North in opposing the suggested changing of the name of that town to Manawat,u was followed last evening by the . Levin Borough Council, which received a letter from Mr. John Kebbell, asking the Council to pass a resolution protesting against the proposed change, and fo forward such protest to the Prime Minister. The Foxton Chamber of Commerce wrote asking the Council’s endorsement of a resolution passed by the Chamber, which, while expressing no objection to Palmerston North changing its name, took strong exception to the suggested name of Manawatu being substituted therefor. The Mayor pointed out that Manawatu was the name of the electorate; it was known by that name all down the coast and was a very big area, and be thought it would be very improper to take that name for one borough. Would Palmerston North like this borough to claim the name Manawatu. Foxton would have just as much claim on the name as Palmerston had. ITo moved, that this Council, while not objecting to the name of Palmerston North being changed, lakes strong exception to the suggested name of Manawatu being substituted for Palmerston North. Cr. Roe: Call it Coatesborough. •' Cr. Bishop: Or Nashville. Cr. Hutchings said he thought that the Palmerston movers in the matter were making a mountain out; of a molehill: Palmerston South was a very small place. They might do as was done in America, where there were dozens of towns with duplicated names, such as Portland, Oregon, and Portland, Maine. They could call the town Palmerston Manawatu. The old settlors, he supposed, had good reason for calling it Palmerston, doubtless associating it with the founder of the first Reform Bill in England. Similarly there were Auckland, Napier and Hastings, named after great men. Why should any suggestion be made to take away such names —particularly one which was associated with the Reform Bill, the benefits of which should never be forgotten. It seemed as if tlie Palmerston North people had a little “bee in their bonnets” about the matter! The Mayor's motion was carried. —Chronicle. .