The Liberals 1890-1893The Liberals 1890-1893

Lecture 2 of 148.205 Modern Lecture 2 of 148.205 Modern

New Zealand PoliticsNew Zealand Politics

The December 1890 Election The December 1890 Election

The most important election in a The most important election in a centurycentury

Dramatic political debateDramatic political debate The Liberals won in the 4 main The Liberals won in the 4 main

cities and some of the townscities and some of the towns Unclear result but Atkinson Unclear result but Atkinson

resigned 27 January 1891resigned 27 January 1891 The Liberals stayed in power for The Liberals stayed in power for

the next 21 years!the next 21 years!

Who were the Liberals?Who were the Liberals?

The Liberal Party in England The Liberal Party in England was formed by Whigs and was formed by Whigs and Radicals and led by GladstoneRadicals and led by Gladstone

It was a Laissez Faire tradition It was a Laissez Faire tradition emphasising free trade, peace, emphasising free trade, peace, reform, battling conservativesreform, battling conservatives

The battle against conservatism The battle against conservatism was easily won in New Zealandwas easily won in New Zealand

New Zealand Liberal valuesNew Zealand Liberal values

Concern to stop runholder Concern to stop runholder dominationdomination

Represented people in townsRepresented people in towns Represented the small Represented the small

businessesbusinesses Wanted positive liberalism- Wanted positive liberalism-

reform and democracyreform and democracy Wanted protection not free tradeWanted protection not free trade

John Ballance 1839-1893John Ballance 1839-1893

Ulsterman and Ulsterman and Birmingham Birmingham ironmongerironmonger

Came in 1866 to Came in 1866 to Wanganui, Wanganui, newspaper newspaper publisherpublisher

Anti-provincesAnti-provinces Freethinker, Freethinker,

democratdemocrat Favoured self-Favoured self-

reliancereliance

John McKenzieJohn McKenzie

Scottish crofterScottish crofter Large loud-Large loud-

mouthed bullymouthed bully Minister of Minister of

lands, lands, immigration & immigration & agricultureagriculture

Sir Patrick Buckley 1840-1896Sir Patrick Buckley 1840-1896

Irish CatholicIrish Catholic Had been Had been

company company secretary for a secretary for a BNZ companyBNZ company

Attorney Attorney General and General and Colonia Colonia SecretarySecretary

William Pember Reeves 1857-William Pember Reeves 1857-19321932 Young Young

Christchurch Christchurch liberal, with liberal, with degree, writer, degree, writer, lawyerlawyer

Saw self as a Saw self as a FabianFabian

Minister of Minister of Justice, Justice, Education & Education & LabourLabour

Sir Joseph WardSir Joseph Ward

Young Catholic Young Catholic draper & draper & freezing works freezing works ownerowner

dapperdapper Postmaster-Postmaster-

GeneralGeneral

Richard John SeddonRichard John Seddon

Publican from Publican from West CoastWest Coast

Crude effective Crude effective local politicianlocal politician

Alfred Cadman 1847-1905Alfred Cadman 1847-1905

From ThamesFrom Thames Minister of Minister of

Native AffairsNative Affairs

James Carroll 1857-1926James Carroll 1857-1926

Half Maori, half Half Maori, half IrishIrish

Joined ministry in Joined ministry in 1892 to represent 1892 to represent Maori raceMaori race

In 1893 won In 1893 won European seatEuropean seat

1899 Minister of 1899 Minister of Native AffairsNative Affairs

Wanted to Wanted to modernise Maorimodernise Maori

The Liberal PartyThe Liberal Party

It was only a party in parliamentIt was only a party in parliament No national party structureNo national party structure Haphazard choice of candidates Haphazard choice of candidates

with letter of endorsement from with letter of endorsement from PMPM

Talk of a liberal federation, Talk of a liberal federation, incorporating various groups, incorporating various groups, led by T L Buickled by T L Buick

Battle with the GovernorBattle with the Governor

Atkinson had asked the Governor, Atkinson had asked the Governor, Lord Onslow, to appoint 7 members Lord Onslow, to appoint 7 members of the Legislative Councilof the Legislative Council

It was impossible to pass liberal It was impossible to pass liberal legislationlegislation

Ballance asked for 12-18 members Ballance asked for 12-18 members and was refusedand was refused

Colonial Office forced agreementColonial Office forced agreement Dispute over appointing H B Dispute over appointing H B

Edwards to the Supreme Court & Edwards to the Supreme Court & Native Land CourtNative Land Court

Land Reform MeasuresLand Reform Measures

Land Tax for absentee owners, 1891Land Tax for absentee owners, 1891 Department of Agriculture founded Department of Agriculture founded

18921892 State Farms established 1892State Farms established 1892 Land for Settlement Act 1892, and Land for Settlement Act 1892, and

purchase of Cheviot Estatepurchase of Cheviot Estate Perpetual Lease (1882) adapted to a Perpetual Lease (1882) adapted to a

31 year lease 1891 – failed31 year lease 1891 – failed 1892 Land Bill compromised with 1892 Land Bill compromised with

Lease in perpetuity 999 years with no Lease in perpetuity 999 years with no revaluation - Very popularrevaluation - Very popular

Industrial policiesIndustrial policies

Reeves formed Bureaus of Reeves formed Bureaus of Industry 1891Industry 1891

Labour Department created Labour Department created 18921892

Began to plan major factory Began to plan major factory reformreform

Also sought to strengthen trade Also sought to strengthen trade unionsunions

Reeves the first socialist?Reeves the first socialist?

Prided himself Prided himself on knowledge of on knowledge of socialismsocialism

But he had no But he had no class analysisclass analysis

He was a He was a nationalist and nationalist and racistracist

He wanted a He wanted a strong statestrong state

How significant was Ballance?How significant was Ballance?

Suffered cancer of colon from Suffered cancer of colon from September 1892September 1892

Seddon was Acting PMSeddon was Acting PM McIvor calls him ‘the rainmaker’McIvor calls him ‘the rainmaker’ He didn’t achieve much but He didn’t achieve much but

created a party traditioncreated a party tradition The struggle gave him statureThe struggle gave him stature