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BISMARCK.
To the Editor of "The Mercury."
Sir.- Kindly allow me space to cor-
rect Mr. R. H. Hickman's allegation
re petition and deputation to Premier
for retaining the name of Bismarck for
this town. I stated that the petition
and deputation were from the postal
area of Bismarck only, and that we
wished to retain the above name for
the town, which had been known by
it for so long a time, and that we
were not particularly concerned whether
the name of the ward of our muni-
cipality was altered, because Bismarck
was only about the third of such ward
and Claremont, South Bridgewater,
Berriedale, and Glenlusk were by far
the largest district, and they could
very reasonably say why was the ward
thus named. But that question must
be answered by the Commissioners who
framed the municipalities. Mr. Hick-
man alleges that all those who could
not see eye to eye with him are not
loyal, but the boot is on the other
foot ; those who signed the petition
against change are as loyal as himself
and when it comes to shelling out, they
may be a long way ahead ; the large
number of all nationalities, loyal resi-
dents, who signed in favour of retain-
ing the name shows that they object to
mere sentiment. Produce. - Mr. Hick-
man admits that it has an excellent
reputation, so, speaking for myself, as
one who has shipped and sold fruit right
up to the last fortnight, and obtained
up to 13s. per case for quality in a
glutted season such as we have just
passed, bears out my contention, which
is also substantiated by agents in Syd-
ney, that change of brand must affect
it for some considerable time. Bis-
marck produce hung up : I challenge
Mr. Hickman to prove what he said
at his deputation, that produce was
hung up here, pending change of names
the only produce here for export is
green peas; these must be shipped when
ready, and returns to hand have sold
at Sydney for 12s. per bag, and were
branded Bismarck ; this disproves his
statements. What's in a name? If
changing it would in any small way
affect the present war, we should be
only too pleased to agree to it, but all
will admit that it cannot. The resi-
dents simply regard the name as a
name, and in no way on account of
some foreign dead statesman having
been thus named. There are scores of
articles by same name, including a var-
iety of potatoes, and also two other
places in British colonies, and no agita-
tion is moved to change them. Re re-
sidents being misled by first petition,
several said they ware told they would
not be able to sell their produce on
account of present name, which my own
and all those who have sold thorough-
ly disprove.
I would suggest that a poll be taken
in the postal area of Bismarck on the
Parliamentary franchise to decide
whether the name should be changed.
This could decide between the present
name and any other name suggested,
and that getting the majority of votes
should be the name of the postal area.
-Yours,, etc.,
G. H. VOSS.
Fernside, Bismarck, December 8.
$