FRANKTON JUNCTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20385, 14 October 1929, Page 13

FRANKTON JUNCTION.

CONTROVERSY OVER NAME.

QUESTION OF TWO STATIONS

DIVERGENT VIEWS EXPRESSED.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Saturday.

The long-standing controversy in Hamilton concerning tho proposal to chango the namo of Ihe Frankton Junction railway station was brought a step nearer finality this morning when Mr. H. 11. Sterling, general manager of railways, conferred with, sixtoen representatives of tho various bodies inlorcsted. Some argument took place on the point whether, if tho change were made, tho names should be Hamilton Junction and Hamilton, and a new aspect was raised in a suggestion that the present Hamilton station should bo abolished, so that tho Junction should servo tho wholo of Hamilton.

Mr. Sterling, after hearing tho representations for and against, expressed the view that it would be impracticable to havo "Hamilton" in tho names of both stations. Ho would endeavour to find somo solution. He looked favourably on tho suggestion to abolish ono of tho stations.

At an earlier stage Mr. Sterling had made it clear that a decision had to bo made. Ho hoped it would be by agreement among tho parties, and that in any case the decision, when made, would be accepted in a friendly spirit. Support for the proposed change was offered on behalf of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, tho Frankton Ratepayers and Citizens' Association, the Hamilton Retailers' Association, and the Hamilton Borough Council. The opposition camo from three representatives of the Frankton businessmen and from Mr. F. B. Jolly, representing tho pioneers of Frankton and tho general residents. Mr. F. H. Clapham, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, said that the reopening of the question had como from Frankton, and the opposition had come, almost at tho eleventh hour, from Mr. Jolly.

Mr. Jolly objected that this was not a one-man deputation. They represented about 1300 peoplo. Messrs. J. S. Anchor, J. R. Fow, D. A. Sellar and C. Lafferty also spoke in favour of the change. The Mayor, Mr. Fow, said that the council had recently como into tho question, being satisfied that the change would bo in the interests of tho town as a whole. The tolal number of ratepayers was between 3100 ;ind 3500, and of these between 1000 and 1100 were in the Franklon area. He thought it would be a good thing for tho town if there were only one station.

Mr. Jolly claimed that between 75 and 80 per cent, of the Frankton business peoplo wero opposed to tho change. Ho criticised the action of supporters of the proposal in paying a canvasser to obtain the signatures of residents to their petition.