Liberal Government of New Zealand

The Ballance Ministry, 1892.

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 the 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]

Significant policies

Economic

Health

The Seddon Ministry, 1900.

Welfare

Education

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. 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).

Treaty of Waitangi and Maori

Constitutional

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

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.

Electoral results

Election Parliament Seats Total votes 1 Percentage Gain (loss) Seats won Change Majority
1890 ² 11th 74 76,548 56.1% - 38 - 2
1893 12th 74 175,814 57.8% +1.7% 51 +13 28
1896 13th 74 165,259 46.0% -11.8% 39 -12 4
1899 ³ 14th 74 204,331 52.7% +6.7% 49 +10 24
1902 4 15th 80 215,845 51.8% -0.9% 47 -2 14
1905 5 16th 80 216,312 53.1% +1.3% 58 +11 36
1908 6 17th 80 250,445 58.7% +5.6% 50 -8 20
1911 7 18th 80 194,089 40.7% -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

Main article: New Zealand Cabinet
Ministry Minister Term(s)
Attorney-General Patrick Buckley 24 January 1891 – 20 December 1895
Albert Pitt 22 June 1903 – 18 November 1906
John Findlay 23 November 1906 – 26 December 1911
Minister of Justice William Pember Reeves 24 January 1891 - 28 May 1892
Alfred Cadman 28 May 1892 - 1 May 1893
William Pember Reeves 20 July 1893 - 6 September 1893
Alfred Cadman 6 September 1893 -28 March 1895
William Pember Reeves 28 March 1895 - 10 January 1896
William Hall-Jones 20 February 1896 - 2 March 1896
Thomas Thompson 2 March 1896 - 23 January 1900
James McGowan 23 January 1900 - 6 January 1909
John Findlay 6 January 1909 - 26 December 1911
Josiah Hanan 28 March 1912 - 10 July 1912
Minister of Finance John Ballance 24 January 1891 - 27 April 1893
Joseph Ward 1 May 1893 - 16 June 1896
Richard Seddon 16 June 1896 - 10 June 1906
William Hall-Jones 21 June 1906 - 6 August 1906
Joseph Ward 6 August 1906 - 28 March 1912
Arthur Myers 28 March 1912 - 10 July 1912
Minister of Internal Affairs David Buddo 6 January 1909 - 28 March 1912
George Warren Russell 28 March 1912 - 10 December 1912
Minister of Education William Pember Reeves 24 January 1891 - 10 January 1896
William Campbell Walker 11 March 1896 - 20 June 1903
Richard Seddon 22 June 1903 - 10 June 1906
William Hall-Jones 21 June 1906 - 6 August 1906
George Fowlds 6 August 1906 - 4 September 1911
Josiah Hanan 28 March 1912 - 10 July 1912
Minister of Health Joseph Ward 8 November 1900 - 6 August 1906
George Fowlds 6 August 1906 - 6 January 1909
David Buddo 6 January 1909 - 28 March 1912
George Warren Russell 28 March 1912 - 10 December 1912
Minister of Defence Richard Seddon 24 January 1891 - 22 June 1896
Thomas Thompson 22 June 1898 - 23 January 1900
Richard Seddon 23 January 1900 - 10 June 1906
Albert Pitt 21 June 1906 - 18 November 1906
Joseph Ward 23 November 1906 - 28 March 1912
Arthur Myers 28 March 1912 - 10 July 1912
Minister of Agriculture John McKenzie 24 January 1891 - 27 June 1900
Thomas Young Duncan 2 July 1900 - 6 August 1906
Robert McNab 6 August 1906 - 30 November 1908
Joseph Ward 1 December 1908 - 1 May 1909
Thomas Mackenzie 1 May 1909 - 10 July 1912
Minister of Native Affairs John Ballance 24 January 1891 - 4 February 1891
Alfred Cadman 4 February 1891 - 29 June 1893
Richard Seddon 6 September 1893 - 21 December 1899
James Carroll 21 December 1899 - 28 March 1912
William MacDonald 28 March 1912 - 10 July 1912
Minister of Railways Alfred Cadman 24 November 1895 - 28 April 1899
Joseph Ward 17 May 1900 - 13 January 1906
William Hall-Jones 13 January 1906 - 24 May 1908
John A. Millar 24 May 1908 - 24 August 1912
Arthur Myers 25 August 1912 - 10 December 1912

See also

Notes

  1. James Belich, quoted in Michael King The Penguin History of New Zealand, page 259
  2. 1 2 "Liberal Party - Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Brooking 2004.
  4. 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.
  5. A History of New Zealand by Keith Sinclair
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Chambers 2004.
  7. 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
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Oxford History of New Zealand, edited by Geoffrey W. Rice
  9. "Timeline". Labour History Project. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  10. 1 2 "Control of working conditions - Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. 23 April 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  11. "NURSING - Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  12. Innovations in health and medicine: diffusion and resistance in the twentieth century edited by Jennifer Stanton
  13. 1 2 The Women's Parliament: The National Council of the Women of New Zealand 1896-1920 by Roberta McIntyre
  14. 1 2 A Concise History of New Zealand by Philippa Mein Smith
  15. Timeline. "Timeline - 1906 International Exhibition". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  16. The Encyclopædia Britannica: a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information, Volume 31 by Hugh Chisholm
  17. Everyman's Child by Sophie Irene Loeb
  18. "Shearers’ cook - Rural workers - Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. 2009-03-01. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  19. Johnson, Paul; Thane, Pat (1998). Old age from Antiquity to post-modernity. Routledge.
  20. A History Of New Zealand by Keith Sinclair
  21. The politics of adoption: international perspectives on law, policy & practice by Kerry O'Halloran
  22. "Care and Protection is about adult behaviour" (PDF). Msd.govt.nz. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  23. "Maintaining Sole Parent Families in New Zealand: An Historical Review - Ministry of Social Development". Msd.govt.nz. 1998-06-10. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  24. 1 2 "Important dates in civil registration in N.Z.". New Zealand Society of Genealogists. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  25. 1 2 Roth, Herbert. "Hogben, George - Biography - Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  26. "From childcare to baby farming | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". Nzhistory.net.nz. 2012-08-30. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  27. Family matters: child welfare in twentieth-century New Zealand by Bronwyn Dalley, New Zealand. Dept. of Internal Affairs. Historical Branch
  28. "The Origins of Technical Education in New Zealand" (PDF). Crie.org.nz. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  29. "A Period of Educational Reform - Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2012-11-30.

References

External links

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