1884–1887 Stout–Vogel Ministry

Stout–Vogel Ministry
ministries of New Zealand
1884–1887
Date formed3 September 1884
Date dissolved8 October 1887
People and organisations
Head of stateVictoria
Head of governmentRobert Stout
Deputy head of governmentJulius Vogel
Member partyStout–Vogelites
Opposition partyConservatives
Opposition leader
History
Election
Predecessor1884 Atkinson Ministry
Successor1887–1891 Atkinson Ministry

The Second Stout–Vogel Ministry was a responsible government in New Zealand that was formed in September 1884 and governed until October 1887. From the outset, Robert Stout served as Prime Minister as well as Attorney-General whilst Julius Vogel held the post of Minister of Finance.

This ministry entered power less than a week after the short-lived First Stout–Vogel Ministry fell. It had lasted only a fortnight, with James William Thomson moving a vote of no confidence against Stout; Harry Atkinson then formed his fourth ministry. However, Atkinson also failed to win the confidence of parliament, and Stout and Vogel supplanted him and remained in power for the next three years.

Background

Vogel had the larger following in the coalition, but his poor health caused him to yield the premiership to Stout. Regardless, many observers still saw Vogel as the more dominant partner in the alliance. Both men were highly active in building consensus between the growing labour movement and middle-class liberalism. Both leaders were likeminded on social policy, however frequently clashed over financial policy.[1]

At the time the ministry was formed, New Zealand was in a prolonged economic recession. As Treasurer, Vogel did what he could to promote recovery, including borrowing, though with little success. The initially hopeful populace lost faith that the government could restore economic prosperity, viewing that retrenchment was the only solution, not expansionism. Atkinson passed another motion of no confidence against the government on 28 May 1887. Stout was granted a dissolution, but the subsequent election went against the Ministry and Stout himself suffered the indignity of losing his own seat.[2]

Ministers

The following members served in the reconstructed Stout–Vogel Ministry:[3]

Name Image Office Term
Sir Robert Stout
Prime Minister 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Attorney-General 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Minister of Education 8 January 1885 – 8 October 1887
Sir Julius Vogel
Minister of Finance 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Postmaster-General 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Commissioner of Trade and Customs 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Commissioner of Telegraphs 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Commissioner of Stamp Duties 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Edward Richardson, MLC
Minister of Public Works 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
John Ballance
Minister of Native Affairs 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Minister of Defence 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Minister of Lands 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Minister of Immigration 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Joseph Tole
Minister of Justice 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Patrick Buckley, MLC
Colonial Secretary 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
William Reynolds
Member of Executive Council 3 September 1884 – 3 January 1885
3 June 1886 – 8 October 1887
William Larnach
Minister of Mines 5 January 1885 – 8 October 1887
Minister of Marine 5 January 1885 – 8 October 1887

Notes

  1. ^ Sinclair, Keith; Dalziel, Raewyn. "Vogel, Julius". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  2. ^ Hamer, David. "Stout, Robert". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  3. ^ Wilson 1985, pp. 69–70.

References

  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.

See also