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THE NEW CENSORSHIP."
MR. TAIT'S STATION NAMES.
Amongj tlie functions assumed by Mr.
Tait when he began his administration of
the Victorian railways was that of censor
of township nomenclature. In this role
he has been more extraordinarily active
than tlie public has realised. He has
ridden his lad with tlie speed of a social
reformer given a clear run. The surprise
of the public has not stopped him. for the
public has not known the extent of his
censorship and as for the astonishment of
thc natives who have awakened to find
that their township was no longer to have
its historical name, that has gone for no
thing. During his few years in the State
Mr. Tait has changed the names of 123 out
of the 853 stations in the State, or 14 per
cent.
In his untrammelled censorship. Mr.
Tait has shown supreme disgegard for his-
torical associations. All readers of Vic
torian History know of Flynn's Creek, but
what is to identify the place witli "Flynn"?
Myer's Flat will be known as long as the
great gold rushes live in history, so why
change the name of tlie station to "Myer"?
Pyramid Hills has become "Pyramid."
which means nothing to thc Victorian; and
Riddell's Creek is now merely "Riddell."
Regardless of its distinct Australian asso-
ciations, .Mr. Tait lopped off the word
"creek" from his stations, it was too much
of a mouthful for busy men. Jung Jung,
a picturesque name for an historic locality,
has become "Jung," plain and ugly,
Some of the changes appeal to the humor
ist. they show such plain evidence of total
lack of humor and abhorrence of the pic
turesque. Armstrongs became "Arm
strong," Dobies "Dobie," and so on, the
"s" being excised from a number of names
as if it meant a plague. Kooweerup West
went tor "Dalmore," and Alexandra-road
for "Lily." "Short names and easy to say"
has been the motto of the administration.
There may be nothing in the rumor, but
it is stated that Kew is to become "Q." In
the latest list Bethanga has become "Eb-
den," East Wodonga "Bandianna," Little
River "Bulban," Reedy Lake "Fairley.
Trunk l.ead "Kopke," Rockv Lead "Rock-
lyn." Sydney Flat "Wood Vale," Hunter
"Woodleigh," and Pearson "Moondarra,"
On the new lines little care has been taken
to preserve old associations, and most sta-
tions have been named after railway offi-
cials. Such doubtful honor has, it is true,
sometimes been requested by the.scattered
residents along the lines, but in other
cases, as in the new Nyora-Powlett group,
the rebellion of the newnamed localities
brought about a few concessions in the way
of the preservation of the oldtime names.
in his excuses to Parliament last year,
when he was in thc midst of his censor
ship, Mr. Tait stated that the prime reason
was economy. It takes less clerical work,
less ink and less wear on the pens to write
Simson for Simsons. It also takes less
paint to placard the station. Unless Mr.
Tait's fad be reined in, there will be an-
other list of changes when the new sum-
mer time table is issued. Apart from the
destruction of historical associations, so
necessary for the growth of a patriotic,
spirit, the changes have been most awkward
for business people, who have had to waste
time worrying out the new name of the sta-
tion to which they wish to forward goods,
The changes have caused miscarriage of
goods; and even now, when at least the
residents are getting used to their new
names, people with business relations in the
country are suffering exasperating incon
venience and loss of time. Why has all
this disturbance been allowed for the mere
saving of a few pence worth of nibs and
paint? It has certainly not been for the
convenience of the public, or why should
North Brighton be changed to "Brighton.'
when everyone who asks for Brighton,
means the beach station for the watering
place famous throughout, the Common-
wealth? Booking clerks know the public
confusion caused by this change, and when.
Brighton is asked for, if thev are worth
their position, invariably inquire whether
the traveller wishes a ticket to the beach
or the old North Brighton station. Enough,
mischief has already been done, for town
ships are rapidly growing round the strange
names Mr. Tait has given his railway
centres. Most of the changes have been
unjustified, and it is to be hoped that a
better considered policy will prevail with
the new administration.
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