THE Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1892. SIR H. A. ATKINSON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2376, 30 June 1892, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1892. SIR H. A. ATKINSON.

It is vjth unfeigned regret that we record the death of Sir H. A. Atkinson this morning. Ife died in harness, and there cannot be the slightest d.oubt tliat lie shortened his own life by tfye way l;e vyorked in tiie gey-vice of tijie colony. W e )>avo never been a supporter qf Sir Harry Atkinson, but tli4 («UUiot alter the fact that we always recognised in him, one of the ablest statesmen -New Zealand has ever seen, and certainly one in whom tl;p (lolony reposed great confidence. Nor was tl;e confidence misplaced. Very little can be said against the private or public characters of our public men.—indeed, >yc seem to be singularly fortunate in that respect—but above all Sir Harry Atkinson’s name is unsullied by a suspicious of dishonesty. Ills public actions were not always such as we could approve : Indeed, be did tilings of which we believe be did not approve himself, but it never lias been even hinted that he ever did anything to enrich himself. We believe we. are right in saying that bis own son was one of the victims of his own retrenchment policy. Sir Harry Atkinson lias occupied an anomalous position in politics. He was a thorough Liberal at heart, but his following was mainly made up of Conservatives, and he had to suit his policy to them. I‘ or many years he has been greatly in advance of the majority of his followers : and they would very gladly have

got rid of him if they could. This is no secret. It was very well known in 1887 that the Conservative' party intended to place themselves under the leadership of Mr Bryce, and throw Sir Harry over-board, but Mr Bryce was not elected, and consequently they had to make a virtue of a necessity. They accepted Sir Harry Atkinson, but most of them deserted him, when in 1888 he introduced his fiscal policy, and it was only with the aid of Mr Ballance that he was able to carry his measures. He was often taunted by Mr Scobie McKenzie and others with belonging to the other side of the House, and the wonder was that he continued to lead a following so uncongenial so long. It is probable he thought he could serve the interests of the Colony best by steering a middle course between the two extremes, but it is useless to speculate on what his motives were. Certain it is that he was a man of large and generous sympathies, great ability, and firmness of character.—A resourceful, masterful, capable leader, and his deatli has made a gap in his party which cannot be filled by any present member of it. He has been in office alipost constantly for the past 28 years,' he had great opportunities, and yet it is said he died a poor man. That, we think, says all that need be said in his favour. He was a great and good man, a generous opponent, a fast friend, and of one thing we are certain, that is, that the Conservative party will not look upon his like again.