1887–1891 Atkinson ministry

Former government of New Zealand October 2022 Scarecrow Ministry Ministries New Zealand 1887–1891 8 October 1887 24 January 1891 Harry Atkinson Victoria Conservatives 1887 general election Liberal Party John Ballance 1884–1887 Stout–Vogel ministry First Liberal The fifth Atkinson ministry (known as the Scarecrow MinistryDalziel 1987 46) was a responsible government in New Zealand, serving from October 1887 to January 1891. It was the last non-party government of New Zealand.Wilson 1985 70–71 It was also the final component of the "Continuous Ministry", a series of conservative governments between 1876 and 1891.Dalziel 1987 47 Background The House of Representatives was split between several different factions after the 1887 general election. The Opposition to the Stout-Vogel government had been led by John Bryce, but he lost his seat at this election and the leadership of his grouping passed back to ex-Premier Harry Atkinson, who now became Premier.Bassett 1969 137 The Atkinson ministry tended to govern with the support of free-trader rural conservatives as a means of keeping John Ballance out of power.Bassett 1969 153 Their policy was to retrench public spending and raise taxes to make the budget balance during the long depression of the 1880s, while also promoting growth with a small loan for public works expenditure, along with promotion of local industry and closer settlement of the land.Bassett 1969 139 To do this, the Atkinson ministry favoured "modest protectionism" and the legalisation of direct purchase of Māori land without the purchasers going through the Crown as an intermediary.Mogford Janice C. 2m52 Mitchelson, Edwin – Biography 25 January 2012 The free-traders objected to Atkinson's proposed tariff of 1888, which ended up passing with the support of the followers of John Ballance and Sir George Grey, later to sweep the Atkinsonites out of power as the new Liberal Party.Bassett 1969 145 Other policies of this government which offended its conservative supporters included bills to establish fair rents,Bassett 1969 147 an eight-hour working day and minimum wages for working men, and to abolish plural voting.Bassett 1969 150 Only the last of these was passed. This was a time of mounting labour unrest, typified by the international maritime strike of 1890, during which the government paid the rail fares of the union negotiators.Bassett 1969 158–159 Despite lasting for several years, the government was generally regarded as a weak and disunified one, bringing together ministers like George Fisher, who disagreed with the Premier on education funding – when he resigned, he submitted "a 60-page document outlining his concerns with the Government administration".Maxim Paul Printers, politicians and piston rings : a biography of the Fisher family : including James, George, David Patrick, FMB, David Percival and Esther Fisher Paul Maxim 2007 40 Another minister, Thomas Hislop, had described Atkinson as "communistic" at an election meetingBassett 1969 137 and was later sacked for using his ministerial position to aid the business affairs of his personal friends.Bassett 1969 151 For the 1890 session of Parliament, Atkinson was too ill to speak, and he died in 1892 – he repeatedly offered his resignation to Cabinet, but they rejected it on the grounds that no other leader could hope to command a stable majority.Bassett 1969 157 At the 1890 general election, the government was defeated at the polls by the Liberal Party; however, it was not clear initially whether the Liberals had a majority, so Atkinson remained Premier until the House met in early 1891. Some supporters advised the government to create a batch of Legislative Councillors when they resigned in order to block Liberal policies – however, the Governor only agreed to appoint six, and later made more for the new Liberal Government.Bassett 1969 165 Ministers The following members served in the fifth Atkinson ministry:Wilson 1985 70–71 NamePortraitOfficeTerm Harry Atkinson center|75px Premier 8 October 1887 – 24 January 1891 Colonial Treasurer 8 October 1887 – 24 January 1891 Minister of Marine 8 October 1887 – 24 January 1891 Commissioner of Stamps 8 October 1887 – 24 January 1891 Postmaster-General 8 October 1887 – 17 October 1889 Commissioner of Telegraphs 8 October 1887 – 17 October 1889 Minister of Education 8 April 1889 – 9 July 1889 Commissioner of Trade and Customs 8 April 1889 – 24 January 1891 Thomas William Hislop center|75px Colonial Secretary 8 October 1887 – 10 September 1889 Minister of Education 9 July 1889 – 10 September 1889 17 October 1889 – 24 January 1891 Thomas Fergus center|75px Minister of Justice 8 October 1887 – 17 October 1889 Minister of Defence 8 October 1887 = 17 October 1889 Minister of Public Works 17 October 1889 – 24 January 1891 Minister of Mines 17 October 1889 – 24 January 1891 George Fisher center|75px Minister of Education 8 October 1887 – 8 April 1889 Commissioner of Trade and Customs 8 October 1887 – 8 April 1889 George Richardson center|75px Minister of Lands 8 October 1887 – 24 January 1891 Minister of Immigration 8 October 1887 – 24 January 1891 Minister of Mines 8 October 1887 – 17 October 1889 Minister of Agriculture 17 October 1889 – 24 January 1891 Sir Frederick Whitaker, MLC center|75px Attorney-General 11 October 1887 – 24 January 1891 Edwin Mitchelson center|75px Minister for Public Works 11 October 1887 – 17 October 1889 Minister for Native Affairs 11 October 1887 – 24 January 1891 Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Telegraphs 17 October 1889 – 24 January 1891 Edward Cephas John Stevens, MLC center|75px Member of Executive Council 11 October 1887 – 24 January 1891 William Russell center|75px Colonial Secretary 17 October 1889 – 24 January 1891 Minister of Defence 17 October 1889 – 24 January 1891 Minister Justice 17 October 1889 – 24 January 1891 See also New Zealand Government Notes References Bassett Judith Sir Harry Atkinson 1969 A.H. & A.W. Reed Wellington 873703 Raewyn Dalziel Raewyn Dalziel The 'Continuous Ministry' Revisited New Zealand Journal of History 21 1 46 1987 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:1887 establishments in New Zealand Category:Cabinets established in 1887 Category:Cabinets disestablished in 1891 Category:1891 disestablishments in New Zealand