Stout–Vogel Ministry

The Stout–Vogel Ministry was the second responsible government to be formed in New Zealand. It formed in August 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. Initially, the ministry lasted only two weeks, with Harry Atkinson managing to pass a vote of no confidence against Stout. However, Atkinson failed to establish his own government, and was unable to supplant Stout and Vogel who remained in power for the next three years.

Stout–Vogel Ministry
ministries of New Zealand
1884–1887
Date formed16 August 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(s)
PredecessorAtkinson Ministry, 1883–1884
SuccessorAtkinson Ministry, 1884

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 original and reconstructed Stout–Vogel Ministry:[3]

Name Image Office Term
Robert Stout
Prime Minister 16 August 1884 – 8 October 1887
Attorney-General 16 August 1884 – 8 October 1887
Julius Vogel
Minister of Finance 16 August 1884 – 8 October 1887
Postmaster-General 16 August 1884 – 8 October 1887
Minister of Trade & Customs 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Edward Richardson
Minister of Public Works 16 August 1884 – 8 October 1887
James Macandrew
Minister of Lands 16 August 1884 – 28 August 1884
Minister of Mines 16 August 1884 – 28 August 1884
Minister of Immigration 16 August 1884 – 28 August 1884
William Montgomery
Colonial Secretary 16 August 1884 – 28 August 1884
Minister of Education 16 August 1884 – 28 August 1884
John Ballance
Minister of Native Affairs 16 August 1884 – 8 October 1887
Minister of Defence 16 August 1884 – 8 October 1887
Minister of Lands 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Minister of Immigration 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
George Stoddart Whitmore
Member of Executive Council 16 August 1884 – 28 August 1884
George Morris
Minister of Trade & Customs 19 August 1884 – 28 August 1884
Joseph Tole
Minister of Justice 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Patrick Buckley
Colonial Secretary 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
William Larnach
Minister of Mines 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Minister of Marine 3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
William Reynolds
Member of Executive Council 3 September 1884 – 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

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