1865–1869 Stafford ministry

Former government of New Zealand October 2022 The Second Stafford Ministry was the eighth responsible government to be formed in New Zealand, and one of the longer-lasting ministries during this period. It formed in October 1865 and lasted until June 1869. However, it was defeated in a vote of confidence on 15 August 1866 and resigned, to be reconstituted with three ministers replaced, so some contemporaries regarded it as two separate Ministries. As the office of Premier had yet to be formally established, Edward Stafford did not carry this title officially.Wilson 1985 63 Background The previous Weld ministry collapsed due to a confidence motion brought by Julius Vogel, but Frederick Weld advised Governor Grey to call Edward Stafford instead. Grey promised Stafford to grant him a fresh general election even if the House did not express its confidence in him by granting Supply, raising the ire of the Weldites.Graham Jeanine Frederick Weld Oxford University Press 1983 104 The new government had three main policies: peace with Māori, retrenchment of the public accounts, and enhancing the power of central government.Bohan Edmund Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman Hazard Press 1994 209 Against the Ministry's proposal to reduce the funding of Provincial governments from customs receipts, the provincialist William Sefton Moorhouse moved a confidence motion which succeeded by 47 votes to 14 in August 1866, but Stafford was re-appointed and formed a coalition with the former Weldites.Bohan Edmund Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman Hazard Press 1994 227–9 One of these was John Richardson, who was threatened with rotten eggs next time he visited his ultra-provincialist home of Dunedin.Bohan Edward Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman Hazard Press 1994 236 Upon the election of James Macandrew as Superintendent of Otago, Stafford caused a furore by withdrawing his power to manage the goldfields until his previous conduct had been audited.Bohan Edmund Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman Hazard Press 1994 236–8 With regard to finances, the Ministry pledged to make £240,000 in budget savings, and succeeded in returning to a surplus in 1866. They also successfully put a counter-claimBohan Edmund Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman Hazard Press 1994 239 to Britain's charges for the expense of providing Imperial regiments during the New Zealand Wars, and their focus on expenditure was described by Postmaster-General John Hall as "retrenchment frenzy".Garner Jean By His Own Merits: Sir John Hall: Pioneer, Pastoralist and Premier Dryden Press 1995 147 In 1867 the provinces' existing loans were taken over by the central government and the local governments were forbidden from taking out any further loans.Bohan Edmund Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman Hazard Press 1994 250 The Māori policy of the Government was of non-intervention unless provoked: Stafford followed a conciliatory line by pardoning some of the killers of Carl Volkner,Bohan Edmund Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman Hazard Press 1994 254 and attempted to involve Māori in colonial politics by creating four electoral districts in the House of Representatives for them. Later, the outbreak of two new insurgencies led by Tītokowaru and Te Kooti raised a military response. Government Agent and opposition politician Donald McLean was sacked in March 1869 for advising Major Ropata not to obey orders to reinforce the Taranaki campaign,Bohan Edmund Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman Hazard Press 1994 280 and Opposition leader Sir William Fox moved a no-confidence vote over the dismissal, which he won 40–29 on 24 June.Bohan Edmund Edward Stafford: New Zealand's First Statesman Hazard Press 1994 286 Ministers The following members served in the Weld Ministry:Wilson 1985 63 NameImageOfficeTerm Edward Stafford center|75px Member of Executive Council 16 October 1865 – 28 June 1869 Colonial Secretary 31 October 1865 – 28 June 1869 Colonial Treasurer 31 October 1865 – 12 June 1866 Postmaster-General 31 October 1865 – 8 May 1866 6 February 1869 – 28 June 1869 Theodore Haultain center|75px Member of Executive Council 16 October 1865 – 28 June 1869 Minister for Colonial Defence 31 October 1865 – 28 June 1869 Andrew Russell, MLC Member of Executive Council 16 October 1865 – 24 August 1866 Minister for Native Affairs 31 October 1865 – 24 August 1866 James Paterson Member of Executive Council 16 October 1865 – 24 August 1866 Postmaster-General 8 May 1865 – 24 August 1866 John Johnston, MLC center|75px Member of Executive Council 14 May 1866 – 5 April 1867 Francis Jollie center|75px Member of Executive Council 14 May 1866 – 24 August 1866 Colonial Treasurer 12 June 1866 – 24 August 1866 William Fitzherbert center|75px Colonial Treasurer 24 August 1866 – 28 June 1869 Commissioner of Stamp Duties 6 May 1867 – 28 June 1869 John Hall center|75px Member of Executive Council 24 August 1866 – 28 June 1869 Postmaster-General 24 August 1866 – 5 February 1869 Electric Telegraph Commissioner 16 October 1866 – 5 February 1869 James Crowe Richmond center|75px Commissioner of Customs 24 August 1866 – 28 June 1869 Commissioner of Stamp Duties 6 May 1867 – 28 June 1869 John Richardson center|75px Member of Executive Council 24 August 1866 – 23 June 1868 John Hyde Harris, MLC center|75px Member of Executive Council 9 September 1867 – 13 May 1868 Solicitor-General 26 October 1867 – 13 May 1868 Daniel Pollen, MLC center|75px Member of Executive Council 10 June 1869 – 28 June 1869 See also New Zealand Government Notes References Wilson Jim Jim Wilson (librarian) New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 4th First published in 1913 1985 V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer Wellington 154283103 Category:Ministries of Queen Victoria Category:Governments of New Zealand Category:1860s in New Zealand Category:1865 establishments in New Zealand Category:Cabinets established in 1865 Category:Cabinets disestablished in 1869 Category:1869 disestablishments in New Zealand