LADY ATKINSON.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1919, Page 9

LADY ATKINSON.

HER WORK AND PERSONALITY Lady Atkinson, whose death was recorded last week, was 'the last of her generation of the two familiics of Atkinson and Richmond, and was born in London :-t IS3S. She came to New Zealand witii her mother to visit nor sister (Mrs. .). C. Richmond), and two years later she married her cousin, Major (later) Sir Harry Atkinson. An old friend who new her in those days says she was a noble-looking young woman—a brilliant personality, keenly interested in the education of the nation in body, mind, and soul. She was a disciple of Frederick Denison Maurice and of John Ruskin, who were at that time beginning to revolutionise the ideas of England and the world on social science. Tbelate Sir Harry Atkinson was the originator of many reforms, ana the strong supporters of many others, and inLady Atkinson he had an intelligent critic and support. These reforms and attempted reforms comprised, among others, the self-reliant, policy in dealing with the Native difficulty, which • resulted in the whole management of onr Native affairs being faced by ourselves, with ultimate success far outweighing that of the military efforts of the regulars, the reform in the franchise oy its extension, the introduction of the'first Bills having universal franchise based on residence, a system comprising proportional representation, the introduction into our land laws of the perjtfual lease, limitation of arrears of selection, compulsory residence in most cases, and choice of tenure leading to the selectors under perpetual lease and deferred payment forming a fifth of the total to being between SO and BO per cent., and the system of pensions which was sought to be instituted in 1883. Such' were among the many reforms in which he had the active sympathy of his helpmate. The death of her'husband wa« a great blow, but she kept alive her interest in political action, and was pleased to see much that has been done.. . Sh» however, regretted the tendency to make society more sectional than formerly, and it has been the regret of her friends that her health prevented her from malt. ing her views more felt, founded as they were upon a wide and sympathetic way of viewing matters, and moulded by ft long experience and an association with people who came to New Zealand mainly with a view to helping to found a better. state of society than that which obtained in the Old Country. She brought up the three sons and one daughter of Sir Harry's first marriage and two sons and 'one daughter of her own, the two families remaining closely bound together. She h survived by three step-sons, Mr. H. Dunstant Atkinson. Mr. E. Tudor Atkinson, and Mr. Alfred Atkinson, and by her son. Mr. H. T. Atkinson, , and her daughter. Mrs. P., Waldegrave. Her step-dnughter, Mrs. C. W. Oovett, died in Enetand last year. Her eldest son, Cnntnin Arnold Atkinson,. who was killed at the battle of Messincs. shared the int.pritan.ee from both parents of n sense of duty nm i ] ovp nf humanity that made him nptty described ns "the illustrious son of an illustrious «-'W,»