ARTHURS OR ARTHUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21166, 26 April 1932, Page 12

ARTHURS OR ARTHUR.

NAME OF NOTED PASS. QUESTION OF FINAL " S." The futility of any movement to eliminate tho "s" from the names of such passes as Arthurs Pass was emphasised by Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson at a meeting of tho Arthurs Pass National Park Board of Control in Christchurch last week. "I see someone lias been writing to the papers suggesting knocking "s" off some of tho names of our alpine passes," said Sir Arthur. "The passes are named for three reasons. First, tho man who discovered it; secondly, the name of the river that flows from it; and thirdly, some incident in connection with the discovery—Kicking Horse Pass, for insta rice."

Sir Arthur mentioned several names that would ho affected by elimination of tho "s." Harpers Pass, Jacks Pass. Dyers Pass and .Tollies Pass were some of them. "Imagine calling Jollies Pass Jolly Pass—people would think .the fallows were all tight," he added. "Such a change would mean that history would he lost and silly names would result. We ought to put a spoke ill tho wheel of these interfering people. One floes not know what they will do next." Mr. 11. Twyneham said he was wholly in accord with what Sir Arthur had said. There was no objection, however, to the elimination of the apostrophe, which was a nuisance in signwriting and so on. The chairman, Mr. W. Stewart, pointed out that tho hoard was constituted to control "Arthur Pass." A protest. had then been made and nothing came of it. "I am quite prepared to accept, another motion on the matter," lie added.

Professor B. Speight said that what Sir Arthur had mentioned also applied to creeks.

"Someone ought to write to these fellows and t.ell them they don't know their own business," said Sir Arthur Dobson. He said that he would rather not, move the motion himself, as discoverer of the pass, but agreed to do so after Mr. Twyneham had said it was very appropriate that- he should. Nobody could accuso Sir Arthur of any personal motive, Mr. Twyneham added. It was decided to recommend to tho • Minister of Lands that the pass be known as Arthurs Pass.