The Whitaker Ministry was formed in 1882 as the government of New Zealand. It was led by Frederick Whitaker and lasted for 17 months, from 21 April 1882 to 25 September 1883. [1] The Whitaker Ministry succeeded the Hall Ministry upon John Hall's resignation. [2]
John Hall resigned as Premier due to health issues and a Cabinet conflict with Native Minister John Bryce, which led Governor Gordon to attempt to call Sir George Grey to form a Ministry. Hall reminded the Governor that his following held a majority in the House of Representatives and nominated Frederick Whitaker to replace him. [3] Whitaker had been the Hall Government's representative in the Legislative Council, renowned as “a Triton among minnows” in that house. [4] Harry Atkinson represented Whitaker in the lower house.
The Ministry succeeded Hall's retrenching government, but as a Budget surplus had been achieved, they felt able to reduce the property tax by half and raise a 3 million pound loan for Public Works. [5] Atkinson introduced a bill to establish a contributory social security scheme in 1882, but this was well ahead of contemporary opinion, and his second attempt in 1883 was greeted with “ribald laughter”. [6] Similarly, William Rolleston’s attempt to create a perpetual Crown lease option for land ownership was amended beyond recognition by the Legislative Council. [7]
On 15 September 1882 the ministry passed the North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Act, [8] to expedite construction of the North Island Main Trunk south of Te Awamutu by authorising the overseas borrowing of a million pounds for the work.
Whitaker had only intended to serve for a single session of Parliament, and having found the Premiership tiresome, he returned to his legal practice. [9] He was succeeded by his close colleague Harry Atkinson.
The following members served in the Whitaker Ministry: [1]
| Name | Portrait | Office | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick Whitaker, MLC |  | Premier | 21 April 1882 - 25 September 1883 |
| Attorney-General | 8 October 1879 - 25 September 1883 | ||
| Harry Atkinson |  | Colonial Treasurer | 8 October 1879 - 16 August 1884 |
| Commissioner of Stamp Duties | 29 October 1879 - 16 August 1884 | ||
| Commissioner of Customs | 21 April 1882 - 16 August 1884 | ||
| William Rolleston |  | Minister of Lands and Immigration | 8 October 1879 - 16 August 1884 |
| Minister of Mines | 15 December 1880 - 16 August 1884 | ||
| John Bryce |  | Minister of Native Affairs | 19 October 1881 - 16 August 1884 |
| Thomas Dick |  | Colonial Secretary | 5 March 1880 - 16 August 1884 |
| Minister of Education | 15 December 1880 - 16 August 1884 | ||
| Minister of Justice | 23 April 1881 - 11 October 1882 | ||
| Postmaster-General | 11 October 1882 - 25 September 1883 | ||
| Electric Telegraph Commissioner | 11 October 1882 - 25 September 1883 | ||
| Walter Woods Johnston | Postmaster-General | 9 March 1881 - 11 October 1882 | |
| Commissioner of Telegraphs | 9 March 1881 - 11 October 1882 | ||
| Minister for Public Works | 21 April 1882 - 23 November 1883 | ||
| Richard Oliver, MLC |  | Member of Executive Council | 18 May 1882 - 25 September 1883 |
| Edward Conolly |  | Minister of Justice | 11 October 1882 - 16 August 1884 |
Sir Harry Albert Atkinson served as the tenth premier of New Zealand on four separate occasions in the late 19th century, and was Colonial Treasurer for a total of ten years. He was responsible for guiding the country during a time of economic depression, and was known as a cautious and prudent manager of government finances, though distrusted for some policies such as his 1882 National Insurance (welfare) scheme and leasehold land schemes. He also participated in the formation of voluntary military units to fight in the New Zealand Wars, and was noted for his strong belief in the need for seizure of Māori land.
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John Bryce was a New Zealand politician from 1871 to 1891 and Minister of Native Affairs from 1879 to 1884. In his attitudes to Māori land questions, he favoured strict legal actions against Māori opposed to alienation, and he personally directed the invasion of Parihaka and the arrest of the leaders of the movement.
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The Hall Ministry was a responsible government in New Zealand, sometimes referred to as part of the Continuous Ministry. It took office after defeating Sir George Grey's supporters in a confidence motion, and is usually regarded as a conservative Ministry, although Hall himself described his followers as "the independent Liberal party".
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