THAT TREASURED MISNOMER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17417, 15 November 1930, Page 15

THAT TREASURED MISNOMER

(To the Editor of the Herald.) Sir.—lt is'pldasing to n6to that some' hostility to tho retention of the name “Poverty Bay” is at present being manifested in this district, and as one who considefs that' the name has had the effect of considerably retarding the progress of the district I should like to express disapproval. , t In the first instance the name was inflicted as a result 6f a''distinguished explorer receiving a hostile reception from a people who were not altogether pleased with his unheralded visit, and just because ' lie *was -tfnAtle' to obtain satisfaction of his immediate-neods lie called tho locality “Poverty-Bity” and'sailed away. With all due inspect to -that famous navigator his action appeal's to me to have been somewhat spiteful, as the attitude adopted fcv the then inhabitants was perfectly justifiable. . To your correspondent, 'R. T. Koliere, with this -appelation is associated wellhonored names and stirring times as well as beautiful bridges, wide streets, handsome buildings, etc'. 'Lbt me held; to his list: A wonderful harbor, not paid for; a borOdgh debt nearing seven figures; and the prospect of-work on -our muchdelayed \ railway being stopped. Some insti&ffi-ion no doubt for retention 6f the" nam#y*lV>verty Bay.” The continues -that it is difficult to believe that a mere name would economically affect a district in the least. I maintain that to the outside world a name is all important if it is one that on the face of it casts a re-, flection* On the <Hstritt. We want to let the outside world know that this is a district of plenty, not of poverty, and how is that information to he conveyed if we persist in the use Af 'the name* “Poverty.” Outsiders-are not concerned to ascertain whether this district is, prosperous dr not; it is for us to tell •them, and how effective can that telling be when we commence by mentioning tho word “Poverty?” Assume, for example, a merchant in China receives similar quotations for the supply of Poverty Bay and Bay of Plenty maize. Both products are similar. Which, name would make the more favorable impression on his mind? Bej ing a sensible merchant, however, he would make enquiries, and from the information available to him, would probably arrive at the conclusion fif news--?aper reports can lx* believed), that both 'overty’Bay and ■ Bay of Plenty ;ayc recently ' developed districts m the Northern'fenatoty. It, is,‘therefore, a case of Plentv -versus Poverty. The fact that. Captain Cook lia'd 'made an tiMortminto mistake when he christeiK'd the district would be Unknown to' Irmi, or if it were known, he would probably consider that the namo bektowdd was 'quite -fustihed especially as the residents had suffered the name for nearly a century, and made no effort to -thtvectd the mistake. As your correspondent aptly the same .argument applies both in North and "South America, and even' nr Great? Britain. 'Therperson;who 'is .deterred from dealing with us because the name “Povefy” is attached to our district may not be so stupid as tho correspondent suggests. >The'average'bfisincSs'man has ijitiMhe time to indulge mi: geographical anjUtistorical research when considering aetSftttfnee : of certain offers for .-.goods. There is no inherent-iquality m our local exports Which makes them so immeasurj ably superior to* similar produce of ot-heu parts 1 Of New 'Zealand and elsrnvW that they l can ’be.'handieHjVpod with the, brand “Poverty.” We are in-keen competition with other parts of the Dominion • and'foreign countries, and tliq impression created bv the name loverly Bay” is Hot going to assist us to increase our• prosperity or clinch a deal for U 3. No ’Mr ‘Editor, tile time is ripe for a change.' We have already received a lead from a source that is usually the last to move in matters of this nature., In 1924, when the Government ereii that this district was Of sufficient? importance to justify a ' separate land district being established, it bestowed

the name of Gisborne on the distiict, a. district stretching from Wairoa to, Opotiki Simultaneously the name ot the Lands and Deeds Registry Office was Ranged from Poverty Bay to Gisborne. The matter of the oluiuge is one for the individual local bodies, societies, and sports bodies laboring under the name, to take up. the Government lias given us a lead, and it is up to Hie persons and societies concerned to follow tho good example. 'Recently in New York a most impressive •funeral was held when those most ■undesirable inhabitants, Mr. business Depression, Mrs. Pessimism, and -Hiss Fortune, were buried at sea. I respectfully suggest that we, hold ft similar service in our own harbor, anu, in. ad-: dition to the 'deceaseds, the name of “Poverty Bay he also comUncJ to tl,c