BATTLE OVER NAME

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 466, 22 September 1928, Page 8

BATTLE OVER NAME

FRANKTON OR HAMILTON? TITLE OF RAILWAY STATION (From Our Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON. Friday. Once again that hardy annual, “Should the name of Frankton Junction station be changed to Hamilton?” is creating a good deal of public interest in the district. This time every public body of importance in both Hamilton and Frankton is definitely in favour of the change. A few Individuals, led by Mr. F. Jolly, a Frankton resident who fiercely opposed the amalgamation of the two boroughs some years ago, are fighting tooth and nail for the reten-

tion of the present name, and Mr. Jolly is circulating a petition for the names of those against the alteration. The Frankton Ratepayers’ Association, supported on principle by the Hamilton Borough Council, Chamber of Commerce and Retailers’ Association, are preparing a counter-petition. Mr. H. H. Sterling, general manager of railways, recently told a deputation that if the majority of people wished it he saw no objection to the change. Most of the objections seem to be founded on sentimental grounds, the weight of opinion being that the change would be for the mutual benefit of the whole town, including the Frankton end. Many people still believe Frankton and Hamilton are distinct towns some distance from each other. Tourists are in the habit of ignoring Hamilton when arriving at Frankton, under the impression that the Waikato centre is miles out of their course.

If the petitions in circulation fail to bring the matter to finality the question is bound to be a plank for candidates for the council in the next municipal elections.