HULTQUIST STREET! WHY NOT?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 199, 5 January 1942, Page 4

HULTQUIST STREET! WHY NOT?

Sir,—Now that the tumult and the shouting of the recent Bay of Plenty by-election have died down may I suggest • that the town of Whakatane might da worse than to honour the late honourable and-gal-lant member for the district by calling a street after him. Already we have some streets named after pioneer citizens, and quite right too. We also have some streets named to commemorate wartime events of 1914-18, e.g., Louvain, Anzac, ika (any others?) Lately our ough Council showed its appreciation of the gallant defence of Crete by the N.Z. Division by giving the name "Crete Street" to a new street, a very appropriate name too, I think. At the same time the Council, in its wisdom, regarded a nearby new street—running from King Street to Crete Street—as a continuation of the old and short Salonika Street. So Salonika Street it now is, right from King Street up to the other end.i * Now, sir, may I venture the suggestion* that. this Salonika Street be' renamed "Hultquist Street?" I suppose a Borough Council has power to rename as well as name a street. This street, Mr Editor, is; a street of State houses, and quite nice looking houses too, which I understand have been erected by a local; firm of builders under the capable direction of a gentleman has more recently become the M.P. for the Bay of Plenty. Would it not be rather appropriate to name a street lined'with State houses after the late Lieutenant Hultquist, for six years a resident of Whakatane and. Member for the Bay? Whatever one thinks of our late Member's; policies, all will agree that lie had courage. He did not let family, responsibilities: deter him from enlisting when his country called—and the same applies to our other deceased soldier M.P.'s. perhaps it may be said that A. G". Hultquist was lucky to win Bay of Plenty at the 1935 vote-split-ting election, but it was the success of his party's candidates in winning country electorates Where the votes were well split that put his party on the Treasury Benches and brought about the era of State houses. But for Hultquist winning Bay of Plenty and twenty others winning other country seats there could be no' State houses in NewZealand to-day. What a pity, therefore, that there was not a straightout contest in Bay of Plenty (and Tauranga,* too) in 1935, and then — or Avas it a good job? So, whichever way fou look at it, the name "Hultquist" and State houses can be closely linked. So why not acknowledge worth by renaming that street "Hultquist Street?" It may mean cancelling out the name "Salonika Streeet." But what does that matter? Who was Salonika? Did he die on active service. Let us give credit to one who d.id—one who did not wait to be called u]f in the ballot either. No doubt my suggestion will receive the consideration it deserves from • our town councillors. Yours etc., ANON.