Harry Atkinson

Infobox_Officeholder
honorific-prefix = The Right Honourable
name=Henry Albert Atkinson
monarch=Victoria
order=9^th Premier of New Zealand


term_start=1 September 1876
term_end=13 October 1877
25 September 1883 - 16 August 1884
28 August 1884 - 3 September 1884
8 October 1887 - 24 January 1891
predecessor=Julius Vogel (1876)
Frederick Whitaker (1883)
Robert Stout (1884, 1887)
successor=Sir George Grey (1879)
Robert Stout (1884, twice)
John Ballance (1891)
birth_date=1831
birth_place=Broxton, Cheshire, England
death_date=1892
death_place=Wellington, New Zealand
spouse=Amelia, (Died 1856), Annie, married 1857
party=None
constituency=Gray and Bell
religion=

Henry Albert Atkinson (Known as Harry, 1 November 1831 - 28 June 1892) served as Premier of New Zealand on four separate occasions in the late 19th century, and was Colonial Treasurer for a total of ten years. He was responsible for guiding the country during a time of economic depression, and was known as a cautious and prudent manager of government finances, though distrusted for some radical policies such as his 1882 "National Insurance" (welfare) scheme and leasehold land schemes. He also participated in the formation of voluntary military units to fight in the New Zealand Land Wars, and was noted for his strong belief in the need for seizure of Māori land.

Early life

Atkinson was born in 1831 in the English village of Broxton, Cheshire. He was educated in England, but chose to follow his elder brother William to New Zealand when he was twenty-two years old. He was accompanied by his brother Arthur and members of the Richmond family. On arriving in New Zealand, Harry and Arthur bought farmland in Taranaki, as did the Richmonds. James and William Richmond also later entered politics. Atkinson's correspondence shows that he was highly satisfied with his decision to move to New Zealand, seeing it as an opportunity to prosper. He named his small farmhouse "Hurworth" after a village in England where he had lived as a boy, although as his father was an itinerant builder and architect the family did not settle anywhere.

Provincial politics

Atkinson was first involved in politics when he became a member of the Taranaki provincial council. Of particular interest to him was policy regarding Māori-owned land, which he wished to see taken over by the British settlers. Continued Māori ownership, he believed, prevented economic development for the colony. Atkinson and his Richmond relations considered the Māori to be "savages", and believed that war was a reasonable option for ensuring Māori co-operation with British land acquisition.

When fighting broke out in Taranaki between Māori and the settlers, Atkinson helped to organize a number of volunteer units to fight the Māori. He himself fought in a number of battles. The importance of Atkinson's contribution is debated, but his endeavours earned him respect from like-minded politicians.

Member of Parliament

In 1861, Atkinson was elected to parliament, unopposed in his electorate. In 1864, he was made Defence Minister in the government of Frederick Weld. He was highly active in this portfolio, advocating a policy of "self-reliance" in the conduct of the war. In 1866, however, he retired due to the death of his wife Amelia (whom he had married in 1856). The following year, he married his cousin Annie. He briefly returned to parliament from 1867 to 1869, but afterwards concentrated on maintaining his farm.

In 1872, Atkinson returned to politics in order to defeat a candidate who was allied with William Fox (a prominent supporter of Māori land rights). Atkinson declared that he would "not see a Foxite get in", and narrowly defeated the candidate. Once in parliament, Atkinson soon became involved in economic matters, opposing the policies of Julius Vogel (who also happened to be a supporter of Māori land rights). Vogel, who supported extensive borrowing to finance public works, was attacked by Atkinson as reckless. Vogel's response was that Atkinson was overly cautious, and would delay economic progress.

Atkinson and Vogel both agreed, however, that borrowing by provincial government (as opposed to the central government) was indeed out of control. The two also believed that provincial politicians were petty and self-interested, and that more cooperation was needed between provinces and the state. It was this shared view of provincial government than enabled Vogel and Atkinson to cooperate, although they never resolved their differences on borrowing by the central government or on dealings with the Māori. Atkinson eventually became part of Vogel's cabinet, but not with portfolios related to negotiations with the Māori or to finance. He did continue to express his opinions on these matters, but found it increasingly harder to convince people of his views.

Premier of New Zealand

First term

In 1876, Vogel retired, and Atkinson managed to secure the Premiership. One of his first acts was to abolish the provinces. He also took over direct responsibility for financial policy, and implemented a less aggressive strategy for borrowing. He attempted to reform the system by which money was handled, placing all responsibility for borrowing with the government while increasing control of spending at a district or municipal level. However, growing economic problems caused his plan to encounter difficulties. As the economy declined, Atkinson became more and more unpopular.

econd and third terms

Atkinson lost power in 1877, only slightly over a year after he gained it. He entered opposition, continuing to promote his ideas of financial caution. He also proposed a number of other measures, including national insurance. In 1883, he managed to make a comeback, gaining the Premiership for eleven months before losing it to Robert Stout. The two then engaged in a protracted struggle for the leadership. A strong counter-offensive by Atkinson enabled him to unseat Stout again after only twelve days. Stout, however, was not so easily defeated, and took the Premiership again after seven days. This time, Stout held his position for three years, defeating Atkinson's attempts to oust him.

Fourth term

There was confusion in Wellington in September 1887 when the members gathered to form a government. John Bryce, Robert Stout and William Rolleston had all lost their seats. Sir John Hall said he was too old. Sir Julius Vogels policies had been rejected by the voters. So there was no alternative to Harry Atkinson, and after two weeks of negotiations he announced a ministry on 11 October. Only two ministers had served with him before. The "Scarecrow Ministry" was not expected to last, but did. The years 1887 and 1888 were the worst of the Long Depression, and Atkinson cut salaries, raised loans and raised customs duties. He was not popular with the wealthy, but they feared the Opposition leaders Grey and Balance even more. By 1890 Atkinson was too ill to make speeches in the House.

Defeat

In 1891, Atkinson was finally superseded as Premier by John Ballance of the newly created Liberal Party, the country's first organized political party. Atkinson acceded to the wishes of his friends, and on 23 January 1891 he was appointed to the Legislative Council, along with six other men, to attempt to block any radical bills that Ballance might introduce in the Lower House. Ballance became Premier on 24 January, and appointed Atkinson as Speaker of the Legislative Council.

The Liberals, who represented the ideas of William Fox, Julius Vogel, and many other of Atkinson's opponents, were to hold power for twenty-one years after Atkinson's defeat, but Atkinson was not to see this. After presiding over the first meeting of the Council on 28 June in the 1892 session Atkinson returned to the Speaker’s Room, where he died.

A statue for Harry Atkinson was erected in Titirangi, Auckland. Atkinson owned a holiday home in that suburb [cite web|url=http://titirangi.net/history2.html|title=Titirangi Village - History|accessdate=2008-04-21] .

References

* "Sir Harry Atkinson" by Judith Bassett (1975, Auckland/Oxford University Presses) ISBN 0196479347
* "Sir Harry Atkinson" by Judith Bassett (1969, AH & AW Reed, Wellington; New Zealand Profiles series of booklets)

External links

* [http://www.primeminister.govt.nz/oldpms/1876atkinson.html Prime Minister's Office biography]
* [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/A/AtkinsonSirHarryAlbertKcmg/AtkinsonSirHarryAlbertKcmg/en Biography in the 1966 "Encyclopaedia of New Zealand"]
* [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/R/RichmondChristopherWilliam/RichmondChristopherWilliam/en The related Richmond family in the 1966 "Encyclopaedia of New Zealand"]