WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8535, 14 September 1907, Page 7

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

{From Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

{ WELLINGTON, Friday. In the House, Mr T. Mackenzie (Waikouaiti) asked the Post-master-he is aware that sonjfe *§flpis postal officials are unaware of the fact that Palmerston is a town in the South Island, and that letters addressed to that wellknown, progressive, and charmingly situated centre are invariably despatched to a township—of comparatively recent date —located in the North Island, which bears a somewhat similar cognomen; if so, will he endesvour to correct this by requiring his officers to become acquainted with the leading centres of the Dominion, in order to obviate the present inconvenience and delay in the delivery of mails? Sir J. G, Ward, replied: The very best is done to avoid mistakes • in despatching letters from Wellington intended for Palmerston and Palmerston North. Unfortunately, many jeople, including at times writers f..r the daily Press, persist in abbreviating the name "Palmerston North" to "Palmerston," which is very embarrassing to post office cltrks. Most of the clerks in the ledge of the names of residents of and streets in Palmerston North, so that letters intended for Palmerston North are not often sent to the j South Island. Occasionally, however, a letter intended fcr Palmerston in the South Island is sent to Palmerston North, and it is difficult to see how this can be avoided unless the name Palmerston North is changed or Palmerston is officially designated "Palmerston South." It is understood, that, as Palmerston is the older settlement of the.two there is considerable objection to a'tering the name. I would, however, state that "Puketapu" would be more preferable than to have such an important centre as Palmerston subject to the inconvenience that arises from there being another town of the same name in the North Island ! aid in the years to come this simi- • larity of name wili prove to be a greater inconvenience than has occurred up to now. , I Mr W. T. Wood (Palmerston' North) then asked the PostmasterGeneral, whether it is correct, as *** alleged by the honourable member for Waikouaiti, that letters are sometimes sent to the "Chicago of Aew Zealand" viz., Palmerston North, the most progressive, prosperous, best laid-out, go-ahead and up-to date town in the Dominion — which letters are intended for an in- . significant, sparsely-built, scattered' looking, drea_ry village known as Pal-, merston, in the South; and, if the ru- j flifiy is correct, will the Postmas- , ter-General, out of respect for the feelings of the vast population of \ Palmerston North, see that the j practice-is discontinued? . To this. Sir Joseph replied: Considering the inconvenience that has I arisen from time to time owing to j two important towns having a simi- j iar name, it is to be regretted that j one or the other do not change the j name. Manawatu, would, in my j opinion, be a mere striking name j ? for Palmerston North 'h n the one it j "■-' now possesses, but 1 recognise that i local sentiment must be considered when any .proposal fcr a change of name is suggested. As the name of i one of the two towns could with advantage to both go out of exist-! ence, I would suggest that eilier the members of the district or lie Mayors of both towns should "meet | anu draw lots in order to decide j •which is to take the charming Maori j name that would, if adopted by either j town, ce.tainly not be to its di: a'- : vantage. i