The pension man

​Harry Atkinson had a wild idea. He thought, when people got to a certain age, at the end of their working life, they should get money.
That’s right. A pension.
And when Harry was considering it, it was new and innovative.
New Zealand was not the first country to come up with it - Germany had already introduced a pension scheme that was much like today’s Kiwisaver.
In the early 1880s, Colonial Treasurer Harry Atkinson proposed a needs-based insurance scheme paid fro by levies on workers which would allow a modest orphans, widows, sickness and old age benefit.
It was radical and got a very cool reception from his Parliamentary colleagues.
Harry Ablert Atkinson had been born on November 1, 1831 in Broxton in Cheshire in England to John and Elizabeth Atkinson.
John was an architect and stonemason with very progressive ideas. He raised all his children to be self-reliant and independent even to the point of choosing their own religion.
Harry became interested in New Zealand by knowing others planning to immigrate and in 1849 he and his brother Arthur set out aboard the Sir Edward Paget.
Harry had plenty of skills, he could cobble and worked in a sawpit. He married Ameila Jane Skinner in 1856 and set up as a pioneer farmer.
He was a hard worker, setting up a dairy, supplied firewood and contracted to deliver mail.
He joined the local provincial council and served for many years. He fought as a captain of the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers.
In 1861 he was elected to the House of Representatives then left briefly when his wife died in 1866 but was back in 1867 after marrying Annie Smith.
He was Colonial Treasurer from 1875 to 1891. In July 1882 he asked Parliament to consider a national insurance scheme - the forerunner to pensions.
But he had trouble getting anyone interested.
Harry was premier three times and in 1888 he was awarded a knighthood.
He worked to the end - in June, 1892 he presided over the first council session then returned to the Speakers Room, where he died.
On November 1, 1898, the Old Age Pensions Act Harry had championed, came into law. It was both ground breaking and very limited. There was a strict criteria for who could have it, including that men and women had to be of good moral character and had been leading a sober and reputable life for at least five years.
Harry is buried at Karori Cemetery.