PLACE NAMES.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18671, 21 April 1926, Page 11

PLACE NAMES.

10 THB r-DITOB OT "THE PRESS." Sir, —Just a few words as a "finale" to this discussion, which seems to be wandering away from the original point at issue, and bids fair to become tedious. I wish to point out to Mr Tobin that in my previous letters I showed no animus against Welsh names or names of any other language in particular. I merely stated that I, for my part, preferred simple names, easy of spelling and pronunciation, rather than names which required a liberal education and an intimate knowledge of languages to understand and pronounce. As Welsh is not at all well known in this country, it follows that my remarks, therefore, as to the desirability of endowing some of our suburbs with Welsh names would appear iii an equal. degree were Chinese or Arabic : names to be selected. Mr Tobin 'a suggestion that I should accept tuition from Mr Davies in the Welsh language, in order to appreciate the beauties of the Welsh names in this country is, really, most refreshing. Might I parry Mr' Tobin's "thrust" with this "counter" —that ho learn •Maori to enablo him to translate and • pronounce correctly those jaw-breaking names that are.' broadcast all over New Zealand's map. lam assuming that Mr Tobin is not a fluent Maori linguist—but possibly I am in error on this point.—Yours, etc., TAFFT WELSH.