Harry Atmore
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The Honourable Harry Atmore |
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| 19th Minister of Education | |
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In office 10 December 1928 – 22 September 1931 |
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| Prime Minister | Joseph Ward |
| Preceded by | Robert Alexander Wright |
| Succeeded by | Robert Masters |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Nelson |
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In office 19 December 1911 – 11 December 1914 |
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| Preceded by | John Graham |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Field |
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In office 17 December 1919 – 20 August 1946 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Field |
| Succeeded by | Edgar Neale |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
14 December 1870 Nelson, New Zealand |
| Died | 20 August 1946 (aged 75) Nelson, New Zealand |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse(s) | Dorothy Annie Corrigan (m. 1936) |
| Profession | Signwriter |
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 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.
Born in Nelson, in 1870, Atmore attended the Nelson Public School and represented the province in rugby. He later 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.
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. Atmore gave his support in Joseph Ward's Liberal government by voting for it on a no-confidence motion, which was saved by just one vote. Whilst remaining an independent, he normally supported the Liberals from then on. Regardless, 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.
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