Harry Atmore

Harry Atmore (14 December 1870 - 20 August 1946) 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 Scientific and Research Department 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.

Early Years

Born in Nelson, 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.

Member of Parliament

Atmore unsuccessfully contested the Nelson seat in 1902, 1905 and 1908 against the Liberal John Graham. 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 Education 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.

Books

*"This Debt Slavery" by Harry Atmore, M.P. and John A. Lee, M.P. (1940 Budget Speeches, Commercial Printing & Publishing, Auckland).
*"You and the USSR" by Harry Atmore, M.P. and 'Uncle Scrim' ie. Colin G. Scrimgeour (1941, Society for Closer Relations with Russia, Wellington).

Further reading

*"Harry Atmore: Independent in Politics" by Simon D. Courtney (Undated, BA(Hons) Research Paper-University of Canterbury, Christchurch)

External links

* [http://www.nram.org.nz/record.php?holderid=62&id=12660&parent=ncindex Harry Atmore's Political Papers. National Register of Archives and Manuscripts]