PALMERSTON NORTH OR MANAWATU?

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3961, 27 June 1929, Page 2

PALMERSTON NORTH OR MANAWATU?

Because the Masterton postmaster 'complains that delay is caused by letters addressed “Palmerston” instead of “Palmerston N.,” the Mastehton Chamber of Commerce suggests to the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce that the na'mie be changed to “Mann” (influence) or “M'anawa” (the heart). The Palmerston Chamber on receiving the letter, entered into a. discussion on the subject. Mr. M. A. Elliott stated that the time would he opportune to substitute “Manawatu” for “Palmerston N.” when the latter is raised to the status, of a? city. Mr. Wallace stated that he had been in Palmerston North 25 years and after consideration, had come to the conclusion that the confusion was added to by the fight way in which people spoke the name of the town. They were to blame in not adding the word “North.” People should know that there were some who were against the change. The town had built up a good name and should hang on to it —a good name was like riches. Fog 50 years they had been advertising Palmerston North and were they going to let that go? The letters P.N. were branded on all eases of goods coming overseas and that brand ensured its correct delivery. If the name was changed to Manawatu, the brand would be M, which would be confused with Masterton and other towns, and firms would find valuable goods going astray, instead of a few circulars, as now. Then there was the cost that the change would entail for each business firm in getting alterations made to letter-heads and so forth. Mr. M. Co-hen was also strongly against* the change and had written the speaker on the subject. Mr. Cohen was at a loss to imagine what reasons could be advanced justifying the change and foresaw confusion in the alteration that would take a generation to straighten out. Mr. Wallace thought that before any definite action was taken, there should be a plebiscite on the question. 'The Chamber was divided on the subject but a majority favoured the change over to Manawatu.

There is a touch of Naboth’s vineyard in the agitation to appropriate the naime Manawatu except. in this ease Naboth will have a backing which will prevent the steal. As Mr. Wallace points out all tha tis required to prevent confusion or delay in correspondence is to add “nolr-th” or the initial “N” after Palmerston —its proper designation. But the real objective aimed at by the agitation is an endeavour by a few business men to filch the nalmie of a, vast and fertile area beyond the bounds of Palmerston North so that it may add to the selfish prestige of their eenIre.