What’s in a name . . .
Today the mania to replace colonial place names with their Maori equivalent has assumed a momentum largely untroubled by popular referendum. In earlier times if you wanted to change the name of a location the machinations of government did anything but grease the wheels.
In March of 1927 a correspondent of the Waikato Times argued that ‘‘ . . . the name Hamilton is not at all appealing and the naming of same is undoubtedly under a cloud and consequently is of very little sentimental value’’. ‘T.G.S.’ suggested that the name ‘Waikato’ would be a suitable replacement, at least in the naming of the town’s railway stations.
The wider context was a debate over the Frankton Junction.
The Frankton Ratepayers and Citizens’ League were in favour of renaming the ‘Frankton Railway Station’ the ’Hamilton Railway Station’.
It was felt that those outside the region were confused at the distance between Frankton and the Hamilton CBD.
At the annual meeting of the organisation in April the pros and cons of a name change were debated at length. In the best traditions of New Zealand democracy, no conclusion was reached. However, there was consensus around the need to have another meeting.
The Hamilton Borough Council declined to discuss the matter in public forum. Their suggestion was that the Frankton station be renamed the ‘Hamilton West Junction’.
In August, the Minister of Railways, future Prime Minister J. G. Coates, formally decided against a name change, arguing that it would result in further confusion in bookings, the addressing of packages and even the alighting of passengers unfamiliar with Hamilton geography.
Coates’ decision was also informed by an awareness of local history.
He pointed out that the Victoria St station was once known as ‘Hamilton West’ and the Claudelands station as ‘Hamilton East’.
Problems had ensued. Interestingly, he noted that the Claudelands station was also once named ‘Kirikiriroa’.
The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce did not warm to Coates’ edict and again resolved in favour of a change.
The issue dragged on into 1929, only to be revived once again seven years later. The 1936-1937 lobbying proved equally unsuccessful with central government.