THE TOWN’S NAME

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 124, 23 April 1927, Page 2

THE TOWN’S NAME

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ACTIVE PETITION TO BE CIRCULATED. Further reference to the proposal to change the name of Palmerston North to Manawatu was made at the monthly meeting yesterday afternoon of the Chamber of Commerce, which body, after fl discussion, decided to draw up a petition, -to be circulated for signature among the business people of the' town, asking the Government to make the change as suggested. The matter had been discussed at a previous meeting, and further-comment was occasioned by the receipt of a letter from Mr W. E. Gascoigne, of Blenheim, who wrote as follows:—“Permit me, both as an old Palmersfconian and aa one who has experienced the incontestable disadvantages of the two Palmerstons—although ‘mostly distinguished by North and South—to congratulate you on your determined and timely effort to change the name of the town' to that of Manawatu, which, I agree, would be distinctly fitting. The evidence is that your effort will be accorded the full measure of support necessary to bring the change into effect. Let me' take this opportunity to say that I equally admire the spirit of keen, unselfish citizenship that prompts ’ you and a number of the citizens of your fast-growing town and district to further its progress and welfare.” On the reading of the letter, the president (Mr M. A. Eliott) commented that the suggested change had created a great deal of interest—not only in Palmerston North but also throughout New Zealand. “I think,” he continued, “the proposal is meeting with the universal support of the business people of the town. No doubt there are a few who are opposed to it, but I think that is almost entirely because of sentimental reasons.” Mr Eliott then moved that the chamber circulate a petition as mentioned at the outset, and. in so doing, stressed the necessity for obtaining as many signatures as possible. “I think,” he added, “that if we confine it to business people matters will be simplified. Foxton, I noticed by the papers, does not object to our changing our name, but objects to us taking the name ‘Manawatu.’ I don’t see that they have any preemptive right to that name. Apparently they circularised the county councils, which have halfheartedly supported them.” • Mr M. H. Oram also thought that the petition should be confined to business people. “Many business houses in the Old Country think that Palmerston North isi the suburb of a big town,” stated Mr R. A. Noedl, who, in support of this contention, produced a letter addressed to “North Palmerston.” , Another amusing exhibit was tabled in this connection—an envelope forwarded to the chamber for inspection. Addressed to’ Box 13, Bombay, it had been sent by the postal authorities to India, and, after several months of wandering, had been returned to New Zealand and despatched to Bombay, a township in the Auckland province. “You will see,” stated the writers, “that tile postal officials were not conversant of the fact that there was a post office in the North Island named Bombay.” The chairman mentioned that he had been informed that many of the road signs to this district from Hawke’s Bay bore the inscription “To » Manawatu” not “To Palmerston North.” Thisj he stated, showed that Palmerston North and Manawatu were regarded as synonymous. After further brief comment, the proposal of the chairman was agreed to.