Harry Atmore
Encyclopedia
Harry Atmore was a New Zealand
Independent Member of Parliament
for Nelson
in the South Island
.
Harry Atmore held the Nelson seat as an Independent
for a total of thirty years from 1911 to 1914 and then from 1919 to his death in 1946. He was Minister of Education
and Minister in charge of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) in Sir Joseph Ward
's United
Government of 1928 to 1931, and the acting Prime Minister of New Zealand
for approximately five months between 25 August 1930 and 21 January 1931.
, in 1870, Atmore attended the Nelson Public School and represented the province in rugby
. He moved to Wellington
and spent eight years there as an apprentice signwriter and decorator. After his apprenticeship, Atmore returned to Nelson and established his own signwriting and decorating business.
Atmore was prominent in local affairs. He was a member of the Nelson Licensing Committee, Education Board and Hospital Board. In 1905, he was elected to the Nelson City Council
. Later, he served on the Nelson College
Council of Governors and Cawthron Institute Trust Board.
. In 1911 he became Nelson's Member of Parliament. He lost the election in 1914, but returned to parliament in 1919 and served as Nelson's representative until his death in 1946.
in 1931 when cuts were proposed for his portfolio, something which he opposed (see Courtney, p. 21).
Harry Atmore read and thought widely. He was one New Zealander who was looking for solutions to problems within the altered economic, social and political context of inter-war New Zealand. He believed it was important to be informed on the issues of the day including monetary reform, international rearmament and the pivotal role of the USSR in any crisis. He associated with Lee and Scrimgeour, who were both Labour rebels with Lee also having some social credit type monetary ideas.
In 1935, 1938 and 1943 he was not opposed by Labour
for Nelson, and he generally voted with Labour.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Independent Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Nelson
Nelson (New Zealand electorate)
Nelson is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. From 1853 to 1860, the electorate was called Town of Nelson. From 1860 to 1881, it was City of Nelson...
in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
.
Harry Atmore held the Nelson seat as an Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
for a total of thirty years from 1911 to 1914 and then from 1919 to his death in 1946. He was Minister of Education
Minister of Education (New Zealand)
The Minister of Education is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the country's schools, and is in charge of the Ministry of Education.The present Minister is Anne Tolley, a member of the National Party.-History:...
and Minister in charge of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) in Sir Joseph Ward
Joseph Ward
Sir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet, GCMG was the 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century.-Early life:...
's United
United Government of New Zealand
The United Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1928 to 1931, defeating the long-lived Reform Government. The United Party had been formed in 1927 from the remnants of the Liberal Party under Sir Joseph Ward, who had made a political comeback. But Ward was in poor health...
Government of 1928 to 1931, and the acting Prime Minister of New Zealand
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
for approximately five months between 25 August 1930 and 21 January 1931.
Early years
Born in NelsonNelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
, in 1870, Atmore attended the Nelson Public School and represented the province in rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
. He moved to Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and spent eight years there as an apprentice signwriter and decorator. After his apprenticeship, Atmore returned to Nelson and established his own signwriting and decorating business.
Atmore was prominent in local affairs. He was a member of the Nelson Licensing Committee, Education Board and Hospital Board. In 1905, he was elected to the Nelson City Council
Nelson City Council
Nelson City Council is a Unitary Authority that administers the Nelson Tasman or "Top of the South" region alongside Tasman District Council. Nelson City Council is one of only five Unitary Authorities in the country...
. Later, he served on the Nelson College
Nelson College
Nelson College is a boys-only state secondary school in Nelson, New Zealand. It teaches from years 9 to 13. In addition, it runs a private Preparatory School for year 7 and 8 boys...
Council of Governors and Cawthron Institute Trust Board.
Member of Parliament
Atmore unsuccessfully contested the Nelson seat in 1902, 1905 and 1908 against the Liberal John GrahamJohn Graham (politician)
John Graham was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for Nelson in the South Island.-Early life:Graham was born in Nelson in 1843, the eldest son of one of the earliest settlers of the region.-Member of Parliament:...
. In 1911 he became Nelson's Member of Parliament. He lost the election in 1914, but returned to parliament in 1919 and served as Nelson's representative until his death in 1946.
Independent
Atmore's political independence was always discernible. He believed that politicians should be, first and foremost, representatives of the people. That when elected they should put principle before party: Atmore resigned as Minister of EducationMinister of Education (New Zealand)
The Minister of Education is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the country's schools, and is in charge of the Ministry of Education.The present Minister is Anne Tolley, a member of the National Party.-History:...
in 1931 when cuts were proposed for his portfolio, something which he opposed (see Courtney, p. 21).
Harry Atmore read and thought widely. He was one New Zealander who was looking for solutions to problems within the altered economic, social and political context of inter-war New Zealand. He believed it was important to be informed on the issues of the day including monetary reform, international rearmament and the pivotal role of the USSR in any crisis. He associated with Lee and Scrimgeour, who were both Labour rebels with Lee also having some social credit type monetary ideas.
In 1935, 1938 and 1943 he was not opposed by Labour
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
for Nelson, and he generally voted with Labour.
Books
- "This Debt Slavery" by Harry Atmore, M.P. and John A. LeeJohn A. LeeJohn Alfred Alexander Lee DCM was a New Zealand politician and writer. He is one of the more prominent avowed socialists in New Zealand's political history.-Early life:...
, M.P. (1940 Budget Speeches, Commercial Printing & Publishing, Auckland). - "You and the USSR" by Harry Atmore, M.P. and 'Uncle Scrim' ie. Colin G. ScrimgeourColin ScrimgeourRev. Colin Graham Scrimgeour, known as Uncle Scrim or Scrim was a New Zealand Methodist Minister and Broadcaster....
(1941, Society for Closer Relations with Russia, Wellington).
External links
See also
- The Atmore Report, 1930The Atmore Report, 1930The Atmore Report, 1930 was a parliamentary report into the New Zealand Education System which became a landmark document and akin to progressive educationists' charter.-Parliamentary Recess Education Committee:...