Liberal Government of New Zealand

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The Liberal Government
Ministry of New Zealand
1891–1912
Date formed24 January 1891
Date dissolved10 July 1912
People and organisations
Monarch Victoria
Edward VII
George V
Governor The Earl of Onslow (1889–1892)
The Earl of Glasgow (1892–1897)
The Earl of Ranfurly (1897–1904)
The Lord Plunket (1904–1910)
The Lord Islington (1910–1912)
Premier
Prime Minister (from 1901)
John Ballance
Richard Seddon
William Hall-Jones
Joseph Ward
Thomas Mackenzie
Member party Liberal Party
Opposition party Conservatives [n 1]
Reform Party
Opposition leader
History
Elections
Legislature terms
Predecessor Continuous Ministry
Successor Reform Government

The Liberal Government of New Zealand was the first responsible government in New Zealand politics organised along party lines. The government formed following the founding of the Liberal Party and took office on 24 January 1891, and governed New Zealand for over 21 years until 10 July 1912. To date, it is the longest-serving government in New Zealand's history. The government was also historically notable for enacting significant social and economic changes, such as the Old Age Pensions Act and women's suffrage. One historian described the policies of the government as "a revolution in the relationship between the government and the people". [1]

Contents

The Balance Ministry, 1892 Ballance Ministry, 1892.jpg
The Balance Ministry, 1892

Significant policies

Economic

Health

The Seddon Ministry, 1900. Seddon Ministry, 1900.jpg
The Seddon Ministry, 1900.

Welfare

Education

The MacKenzie Ministry, 1912. MacKenzie Cabinet 1912.jpg
The MacKenzie Ministry, 1912.

Foreign policy

New Zealand's foreign policy at this time expressed a sense of nationhood but also of Britishness: New Zealanders were proud of their young nation and of being part of the British Empire. The annexation of the Cook Islands can be seen as part of a desire to create a miniature empire in the Pacific, which would be part of the wider British Empire. New Zealand's enthusiastic involvement in the Boer War expressed both loyalty to 'mother Britain' and a sense of being a nation which could play its part on the world stage. The war was the first overseas conflict to which New Zealand committed troops. [35] [36] Although the New Zealand blue ensign became the country's national flag, the Union Jack, the flag of Great Britain, continued to be widely used (the medals awarded at the conclusion of the war featured the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand).[ citation needed ]

Treaty of Waitangi and Maori

Constitutional

Governor Lord Plunkett declaring New Zealand a dominion on the steps of parliament in 1907 Dominion Day New Zealand.jpg
Governor Lord Plunkett declaring New Zealand a dominion on the steps of parliament in 1907

Formation

The formation of the Liberal Party came after the victory of liberal-leaning members of parliament, led by John Ballance, at the 1890 general election.

The attempt by Harry Atkinson and other members of the previous government to stack the Legislative Council against the new government backfired on them. [37] [38]

Defeat

The government lost its majority at the 1911 general election, but managed to stay in office with the support of independent MPs until the following year. The government was eventually defeated in a vote of confidence on 10 July 1912, with the defection of some Liberals like John A. Millar.

Election results

ElectionParliamentSeatsTotal votes1PercentageGain (loss)Seats wonChangeMajority
1890 ² 11th 7476,54856.1%-38-2
1893 12th 74175,81457.8%+1.7%51+1328
1896 13th 74165,25946.0%-11.8%39-124
1899 ³ 14th 74204,33152.7%+6.7%49+1024
1902 4 15th 80215,84551.8%-0.9%47-214
1905 5 16th 80216,31253.1%+1.3%58+1136
1908 6 17th 80250,44558.7%+5.6%50-820
1911 7 18th 80194,08940.7%-18.0%33-17-14

Notes:- 1. The vote totals and percentages, from 1890 to 1902, exclude the four Maori electorates. From 1890 to 1902 additional votes cast in four three-member electorates are included. The comparability over time of the vote totals are also affected by unopposed elections. The electorates where there was no contest numbered six in 1890, three in 1893 and 1899, and one in 1911.
2. There were no organized parties at the time of the 1890 election. The figures given are an approximate indication of the division of political opinion between Liberals and others.
3. The seat figures given are from the Elections New Zealand website. They are the same as those in the International Almanac of Electoral History.

Prime Ministers

Five premiers and prime ministers (the title of premier was changed during the term in office of the government) served during the government's tenure, with two (Ballance and Seddon) dying in office:

Cabinet Ministers

Party key Liberal Party
Independent Liberal
PortfolioMinisterStartEnd
Prime Minister John Ballance 24 January 189127 April 1893
Richard Seddon 27 April 189310 June 1906
William Hall-Jones 10 June 19066 August 1906
Joseph Ward 6 August 190628 March 1912
Thomas Mackenzie 28 March 191210 July 1912
Minister of Agriculture John McKenzie 24 January 189127 June 1900
Thomas Young Duncan 27 June 19006 August 1906
Robert McNab 6 August 190630 November 1908
Joseph Ward 30 November 19081 May 1909
Thomas Mackenzie 1 May 190910 July 1912
Attorney-General Patrick Buckley 24 January 189120 December 1895
Albert Pitt 22 June 190318 November 1906
John Findlay 23 November 190626 December 1911
Minister of Customs John Ballance 24 January 189127 April 1893
Joseph Ward 1 May 189316 June 1896
Richard Seddon 16 June 189629 October 1900
Charles H. Mills 29 October 19006 August 1906
John A. Millar 6 August 19066 January 1909
Alexander Hogg 6 January 190917 June 1909
George Fowlds 17 June 19094 September 1911
Roderick McKenzie 4 September 191126 December 1911
George Laurenson 28 March 191210 July 1912
Minister of Defence Richard Seddon 24 January 189122 June 1896
Thomas Thompson 22 June 189823 January 1900
Richard Seddon 23 January 190010 June 1906
Albert Pitt 10 June 190618 November 1906
Joseph Ward 23 November 190628 March 1912
Arthur Myers 28 March 191210 July 1912
Minister of Education William Pember Reeves 24 January 189110 January 1896
William Campbell Walker 11 March 189620 June 1903
Richard Seddon 22 June 190310 June 1906
William Hall-Jones 21 June 19066 August 1906
George Fowlds 6 August 19064 September 1911
Josiah Hanan 28 March 191210 July 1912
Minister of Finance John Ballance 24 January 189127 April 1893
Joseph Ward 27 April 189316 June 1896
Richard Seddon 16 June 189610 June 1906
William Hall-Jones 10 June 19066 August 1906
Joseph Ward 6 August 190628 March 1912
Arthur Myers 28 March 191210 July 1912
Commissioner of State Forests John McKenzie 1 May 189327 June 1900
Thomas Young Duncan 27 June 190021 June 1906
Thomas Mackenzie 6 January 190910 July 1912
Minister of Health Joseph Ward 8 November 19006 August 1906
George Fowlds 6 August 19066 January 1909
David Buddo 6 January 190928 March 1912
George Warren Russell 28 March 191210 July 1912
Minister of Immigration John McKenzie 24 January 18912 March 1896
William Campbell Walker 2 March 189620 June 1903
Richard Seddon 20 June 190310 June 1906
Charles H. Mills 10 June 19066 August 1906
James McGowan 6 August 19066 January 1909
George Fowlds 6 January 19094 September 1911
George Warren Russell 28 March 191210 July 1912
Minister of Industries and Commerce Joseph Ward 20 January 18942 March 1896
Thomas Thompson 2 March 189621 December 1899
Joseph Ward 21 December 189923 November 1906
James McGowan 23 November 19066 January 1909
Thomas Mackenzie 6 January 190910 July 1912
Minister of Internal Affairs John Findlay 19 November 19076 January 1909
David Buddo 6 January 190928 March 1912
George Warren Russell 28 March 191210 July 1912
Minister of Justice William Pember Reeves 24 January 189128 May 1892
Alfred Cadman 28 May 18921 May 1893
William Pember Reeves 20 July 18936 September 1893
Alfred Cadman 6 September 189328 March 1895
William Pember Reeves 28 March 189510 January 1896
William Hall-Jones 20 February 18962 March 1896
Thomas Thompson 2 March 189623 January 1900
James McGowan 23 January 19006 January 1909
John Findlay 6 January 190926 December 1911
Josiah Hanan 28 March 191210 July 1912
Minister of Labour William Pember Reeves 31 May 189210 January 1896
Richard Seddon 10 January 189610 June 1906
William Hall-Jones 21 June 19066 August 1906
John A. Millar 6 August 19066 January 1909
Alexander Hogg 6 January 190917 June 1909
John A. Millar 17 June 190928 March 1912
George Laurenson 28 March 191210 July 1912
Minister of Marine Richard Seddon 3 June 18921 May 1893
Patrick Buckley 1 May 189313 October 1893
Joseph Ward 13 October 189316 June 1896
William Hall-Jones 16 June 18966 August 1906
John A. Millar 6 August 190628 March 1912
George Laurenson 28 March 191210 July 1912
Minister of Mines Richard Seddon 24 January 18916 September 1893
Alfred Cadman 6 September 189321 December 1899
James McGowan 21 December 18996 January 1909
Roderick McKenzie 6 January 190928 March 1912
James Colvin 28 March 191210 July 1912
Minister of Native Affairs John Ballance 24 January 18914 February 1891
Alfred Cadman 4 February 189129 June 1893
Richard Seddon 6 September 189321 December 1899
James Carroll 21 December 189928 March 1912
William MacDonald 28 March 191210 July 1912
Postmaster-General Patrick Buckley 24 January 18914 February 1891
Joseph Ward 4 February 189116 June 1896
Richard Seddon 16 June 189621 December 1899
Joseph Ward 21 December 189928 March 1912
Harry Ell 28 March 191210 July 1912
Minister of Railways Alfred Cadman 24 November 189528 April 1899
Joseph Ward 17 May 190013 January 1906
William Hall-Jones 13 January 190624 May 1908
John A. Millar 24 May 190828 March 1912
Arthur Myers 28 March 191210 July 1912
Minister of Revenue Arthur Myers 28 March 191210 July 1912
Minister of Works Richard Seddon 24 January 18912 March 1896
William Hall-Jones 2 March 189630 November 1908
Roderick McKenzie 30 November 190828 March 1912
William MacDonald 28 March 191210 July 1912

See also

Notes

  1. The opposition recast itself numerous times from the Political Reform Association (1887–1891), National Association (1891–1899), and finally as the New Zealand Political Reform League in 1909.

References

  1. James Belich, quoted in Michael King The Penguin History of New Zealand, page 259
  2. Sinclair & Dalziel 2000, pp. 190–192.
  3. 1 2 "Liberal Party – Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Brooking 2004.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Bassett 1998.
  6. 1 2 A History of New Zealand by Keith Sinclair
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Chambers 2004.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Poverty and Progress in New Zealand: A Re-assessment by William Ball Sutch
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Oxford History of New Zealand, edited by Geoffrey W. Rice
  10. "Timeline". Labour History Project. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  11. McLintock, Alexander Hare; Percy Hylton Craig Lucas. "Liberal Land Policy for Closer Settlement, 1891–1911". An encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, 1966. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Control of working conditions – Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. 23 April 2009.
  13. "NURSING – Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. 22 April 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  14. Innovations in health and medicine: diffusion and resistance in the twentieth century edited by Jennifer Stanton
  15. 1 2 The Women's Parliament: The National Council of the Women of New Zealand 1896–1920 by Roberta McIntyre
  16. 1 2 A Concise History of New Zealand by Philippa Mein Smith
  17. Timeline. "Timeline – 1906 International Exhibition". Christchurch City Libraries . Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  18. The Encyclopædia Britannica: a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information, Volume 31 by Hugh Chisholm
  19. Everyman's Child by Sophie Irene Loeb
  20. "Shearers' cook – Rural workers – Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. 1 March 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  21. Johnson, Paul; Thane, Pat (1998). Old age from Antiquity to post-modernity. Routledge.
  22. The politics of adoption: international perspectives on law, policy & practice by Kerry O'Halloran
  23. "Care and Protection is about adult behaviour" (PDF). Msd.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  24. "Maintaining Sole Parent Families in New Zealand: An Historical Review – Ministry of Social Development". Msd.govt.nz. 10 June 1998. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  25. 1 2 "Important dates in civil registration in N.Z." New Zealand Society of Genealogists. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  26. 1 2 Roth, Herbert. "Hogben, George – Biography – Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  27. "From childcare to baby farming | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". Nzhistory.net.nz. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  28. Family matters: child welfare in twentieth-century New Zealand by Bronwyn Dalley, New Zealand. Dept. of Internal Affairs. Historical Branch
  29. "The Origins of Technical Education in New Zealand" (PDF). Crie.org.nz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  30. "A Period of Educational Reform – Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. 22 April 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  31. Sinclair & Dalziel 2000, p. 227.
  32. King 2003, pp. 285–291.
  33. Sinclair & Dalziel 2000, p. 233.
  34. King 2003, pp. 292–293.
  35. Sinclair & Dalziel 2000, p. 225-231.
  36. King 2003, pp. 284–287.
  37. Hamer 1988, p. 82.
  38. McIvor 1989, pp. 179, 180.

Further reading