NAME AND FAME

Evening Post, Issue 52, 2 March 1935, Page 10

NAME AND FAME

A CITY'S PRIDE

PALMERSTON NORTH

Mr. James Wallace, chairman of directors of the Premier Drapery Co., Ltd., Palmerston North, writes to "The Post" protesting against any change of name of that city, and quoting a letter to the same effect written in 1928 by. the late Mr. Maurice Cohen, whose work in the public life of Palmerston North and Wellington is well remembered. A great deal of Mr. Wallace's argument tends to show that in the case of any'long-established city a change of name would be most upsetting and costly in its results, even if there was some good reason for ousting the existing name and the good will and prestige attaching to it. But Mr. Wallace contends that there is no such reason, anS that the name Palmerston North will stand on its merits.

While paying a tribute to Mr. Johannes Andersen's work for native birds, Mr. Wallace contests his claim that the Maori name Manawatu should supplant the English name Palmerston North, which perpetuates the memory of an English statesman associated with New Zealand's early settlement. Maori is not known outside New Zealand; and if postal accuracy and convenience are the test, Manawatu would be inferior to Palmerston North. Also, in practice, no postal inconvenience attaches to Palmerston North. After thirty years on the executive of two of the largest importing and retailing businesses in Palmerston North, Mr. Wallace can say that fully a quarter of a million letters have passed through his hands, and he cannot remember one going astray. The late Mr. Cohen estimated that half a million letters reached his businesses and he did not remember a single misdelivery. If the reason for changing the name of Palmerston North is misdirection to the South Island, there is "nothing in it." Mr. Wallace adds that "Palmerston North is the only city in the whole world with this designation, so- that there is no risk of any letter going astray; if properly directed, it will come straight to the addressee. There is no fear of its being confounded with other cities of the same name. It is the same with cablegrams to Palmerston North. 'Nathans, Palmerston North' would came straight over the j wires' from anywhere in the world where there is a post office in the Post Office Union to Palmerston North. (New Zealand is not even necessary). When the man in the -street realises that these two capital letters (P.N.) ensure safe and quick delivery to all our overseas merchandise, he will take notice. Nearly every importer uses the firm's initials as their 'mark' followed by the initials of the city. No time is lost in classifying P.N. cargo, either on the steamship or on the wharf, as the goods, are dumped ashore. The letter (M) would refer to other towns. The same applies now to the railways and railway wagons, through traffic. To every business man it means needless expense, which he cannot afford today, reprinting all his stationery and advising suppliers everywhere of the changed, name." Mr. Wallace criticises the Chamber of Commerce, local bodies of the district, and other "powers that be," also the Press, for not stamping on a certain tendency to contract Palmerston North to merely "Palmerston." The name Palmerston North has now been borne for many years and has historical, sentimental, and good-will values.

Mr. Wallace forwards a copy of the letter of Mr. Cohen, who says that postal dislocation is a bogy. There is only one Palmerston North, but U.S.A. has at least twenty Homes. Two generations have helped to build up Palmerston North. Change of name would mean a dislocation and chaos that would not be cleared up for another generation.