MR A. H. ATKINSON.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9176, 20 June 1908, Page 5

MR A. H. ATKINSON.

When a man offers himself for election as a member of Parliament the electors naturally desire to know something of his antecedents. In the case of the gentleman now referred to that information can be easily supplied as the whole of his' life, since reaching manhood, has been spent in the electorate. It is now 18 years since he came to Feeding where he stopped for awhile with Mr F, Y. Lethbiidge, who, at that time,;held the large run since, subdivided. Mr Atkinson': shortly' afterwards took tip. laud' in the' Pakihikura, and became one' of; the first settlers in the block., , The' land was then without roads and' Mr Atkinson was one 6f the most lictive in the agitation for-the'.raising of loans for making roads and the construction of the Vinegar Hill bridge, which gave settlers access .to ‘the railway. Mr Atkinson was elected a member of the Kiwitea Council, on which body he served to the satisfaction of.-the ratepayers during a period o f six years. He has always taken an active part in the Farmers’ Union, and was t,he delegate from the Huuterville branch to the Provincial Conferences, held at Palmerston and Mastertbp, and served on the Executive of, the Union. It will bo remembered; that it was chiefly due, .'at the Master ton. Conference, to »bo clear statement of Mr Atkinson, before•. 'the,, theny Minister of Lands {Mr Duncan)’ of; the grievances of landholders Against the Wellington Land. Board, that meetings of i.ho JBorrd .have.-' since been held in cmnrtry centres,, thus enabling sett r ■‘■'end the meet- ( ings, bringing tlifl members of the' Board in personal con to cl:' with those in whose, Interests they are acting. Tne well-known improvement that has beer affected in the conduct of the buslines,' of that body from the old. red tape system, is proof of. the benefit 'affected by the'' action then taken by the -present candidate. Among other public services undertakes,, by Hr Atkinson, has been tyri year;- on the, Wanganui Education Board. About;, four years ago he c*«i:aa to Feilding.i and opened 'fnbn;, of wool, etc.,-; which* business : ,/■ grown to'tlio’ dimer. ‘ «ns we:.-'• •” r ff-vmc-rs. in the Fe/ Jing ?*•••■'.. Tu© high opthu’ .e ol tilt ■■ ratepayers, of Mr Atkin,m •. - Dree jOßr?’-; residence amongst. -.■* •• a, was shown: ac the last elei?-'--.'. t ’-he Bprougii Council whea he ..as second- highest.at the poll, and ■ now i.iso eccapies the position ox chairman ot the Feilding Chamber of Commerce. It will thus be seen that Mr Atkinson has had a thoroughly good apprenticeship in land settlement and local body work, than which there can be no better schooling for Purllamentary duties. The electors indeed, will find when he comes to addros::them that he has long been a. keen student of the politics of the country.