FRANKTON STATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17840, 12 October 1929, Page 7

FRANKTON STATION.

WILL NAME BE CHANGED? CONFERENCE AT HAMILTON. MR. STERLING HEARS BOTH SIDES. Strong views for and against the changing of the name of Frankton Station to Hamilton were expressed at a conference at Hamilton this morning bebetween local people and Mr. H. H. Sterling, General (Manager of Railways. A suggestion that the present Hamilton Station should be abolished found favour from some on both sides. In his reply Mr. Sterling said it was impossible to consider having a slation on the branch line and another on the main line both named Hamilton. He would endeavour to find some solution. He hoped that in time to come there would be only one station for the whole town. In opening the conference, Mr. Sterling said resolutions and petitions had been sent to him by those desiring the change and also letters from Mr. Jolly in opposition. He had thought the best way to come to an understanding was to arrange a conference of all parties, at which, he hoped, each would give the others credit for sincerity of purpose. lie pointed out that it was necessary to make a decision. If it was by agreement between the parses, ,sn much the better, but in any case a decision must be reached. Commercial Men’s Vlow. Mr. F. H. Clapham, representing the Chamber of Commerce, said the agitation for the change had been going on for some seven or eight-years, and it was only at the eleventh hour —so to speak—that serious opposition was raised. The most important reason for the change was that Frankton was within the borough of Hamilton and it was necessary to have Hamilton placed on the map as a Main Trunk town. The name Frankton was known to outsiders simply as that of a junction, and people coming here did not realise that it was really the Hamilton of which they had heard so much. The station had originally been called Hamilton Junction. He had verified this from the files of the Waikato Times. Frankton’s Support. Mr. J. S. Anchor, on behalf of the Frankton Ratepayers’ Association, said his body favoured the change on similar grounds to those mentioned by Mr. Clapham. ' He and Mr. D. D. Wilson had interviewed practically all the shopkeepers of Frankton and in two hours had got the names of 100 in favour and not a single refusal. After the counter-petition had been taken around, his association had engaged a canvasser for a week, and he had obtained about 1000 signatures for the change, some people signing both petitions. Mayor Favours Single Station. The Mayor of Hamilton, Mr. .T. R. Fow, said the Council came into the matter by invitation of the Chamber of Commerce. The Council hitherto had taken no particular part, as it desired to hold the balance between the different sections of the town. He took it that the decision would have to come from the department as it would be impossible to convince people whose life had been wrapped up with a place that harm would not come from the change of name. However, as representations had lately come from the Frankton end, the Council felt it was now justified in supporting the proposal for the change. His personal opinion was that it would be a good thing for the town if there were only one station. There was no justification for having a station in the heart of Hamilton when there was another large station within a mile. He gave instances to show that people coming to Frankton stayed there, believing they were some distance from Hamilton. One man had done so, and in consequence missed the opportunity of seeing relatives here. It was often a disadvantage to business people to have their goods consigned to Hamilton. He had had goods arriving from Auckland of which he could have got delivery early from Frankton, but he had had to wait till they were shunted to Hamilton. In reply to Mr. Sterling, Mr. Fow said that if both stations were retained, he would favour calling the junction Hamilton Junction and the other Hamilton Central or Victoria Station. Retailers’ Opinion. Mr. D. A. Sellar, representing the Hamilton Retailers’ Association, said he had had the advantage of forming an outside opinion and having it confirmed by local people. When lie had travelled here from other places, he could not understand why (he people put up with the confusion caused by the use of two names—Frankton and Hamilton. His business experience here had convinced him that there was not, only inconvenience hut business loss in consequence of the confusion. Cr. C. Lafferty said he had come with an open mind. His interests were in Frankton. He thought the solution was to have only one station, to be named Hamilton. He mentioned that farmers who came from the South had been unwilling to get off the train at Frankton, believing it to be some distance from Hamilton. In reply to Mr. Sterling, Mr. Lafferty said that, even if the two stations were retained, he would favour changing the name Frankton to Hamilton. Change Opposed. Mr. J. G-. Harp agreed that if the Hamiliton Station were abolished, that would settle the matter in the best way. He had two businesses in Frankton and two in Hamilton. He contended that the change in the name of the station would be the thin edge of the wedge toward changing the name of Hie locality. He had a sworn declaration with 72 names, or 75 per cent, of the business people of Frankton. However, he would agree that when the Hamilton Station was abolished the junction name should be changed to Hamilton. Mr. R. J. Clover said he had been induced to sign the petition for the change on the understanding that Mr. Frank Jolly agreed to it, but he was sure the general opinion in Frankton was strongly against it. Mr. F. B. Jolly’s View. Mr. F. B. .Tolly said the Frankton . (Continued in next column.).

people claimed that they were a separate community from Hamilton and that the question of a change of name was a question for them alone. The Hamilton Borough 'Council should not come into the matter at all. Some people contended that Ihe change of name of the station did not imply that the name of the locality would he changed, but it was inevitable that the name of the local branch post office would accord with that of the railway station. The people of New Zealand were not so ignorant that they did not know the difference between Hamilton and Frankton. It was “ mere piffle ” to say confusion existed. Mr. Jolly said between 75 and 80 per cent, of the Frankton business people were opposed to a change. He had heard one borough councillor say that he would like to see Frankton wiped out altogether. Speaking heatedly, Mr. Jolly complained of the action of supporters of the scheme in paying a man to worry the residents into signing the petition. Youths in the butter-box factory had appended their signatures without knowing what they were doing. Mu. Jolly, in reply to questions, said it would be time enough to change the name when there was one station for the whole of Hamilton.

On the motion of the Mayor, a vote of thanks to Mr. Sterling for listening to the deputation was passed. In reply Mr. Sterling said it was only logic that it would be impossible to consider having one station on the branch line and one on the Main Trunk line —both named Hamilton. Until a distinctive and acceptable name could he found for the present Hamilton Station he would not authorise a change. He would endeavour to find some" solution to the problem, but if none could be found things would have to go on as they are. He hoped the time- would come when there would be one station for .the whole of