consisted of the Governor, a nominated Legislative Council and an elected House of Representatives. In each of the Provinces there was an elected Superintendent and an elected Provincial Council with defined, if limited, powers, The General Assembly, and the Provincial Councils, were expressly debarred from regulating Crown Lands or lands in the possession of the Maoris; and the laws, customs and usages of the Maoris were 'for the present to be maintained for the Government of themselves, in all their Relations to and Dealings with each other, and that particular Districts should be set apart within which such Laws, Customs and Usages should be observed'. There were also a number of other restrictions on the legislative capacity of the General Assembly; and the laws passed by them required the Royal Assent and were not to be repugnant to the laws of England. Thus the constitutional picture of New Zealand as a result of this Constitution was that of six small scattered European settlements each with its own Provincial Government and having a central Parliament; the Maori-occupied country between the settlements having no part in this representative Government but governing itself according to Maori custom, subject to the overriding authority of the Governor in Council. No provision was made in the Constitution for a responsible Executive, and although three Members of the House of Representatives and two Members of the Legislative Council took office without portfolio, effective power remained in the hands of the three officials, who, with the Governor, still continued to sit in the Executive Council. This arrangement led to disputes between the legislature and the executive, the resulting deadlock only being resolved when, on 7th May 1856, Henry Sewell took office as the first Premier of a fully responsible administration. The title of Prime Minister, although in common use from that date, was not officially assumed until 1899. The name of the Province of New Plymouth was changed in 1858 to Taranaki, and new Provinces of Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Southland and Westland were formed in 1858, 1859, 1861 and 1864 respectively. Southland, however, was re-united with Otago in 1870. The system of having both central and provincial governments led, as the Provinces developed, to friction between them; and in 1875 the Provincial organisation was brought to an end by the Abolition of Provinces Act, which became operative in 1876. Some of the restrictions placed on the powers of the New Zealand General Assembly were removed by the New Zealand Constitutional Amendment Act of 1857, which gave power to the Assembly to amend, alter, suspend or repeal the majority of the provisions of the Act of 1852. Responsibility for Maori affairs remained with the Governor until 1864, when it was finally handed over to the New Zealand Government; and from that date the New Zealand central Government was responsible for the whole of New Zealand. By a Royal Proclamation of 9th September 1907 it was declared that after 26th September 1907 the Colony of New Zealand should be known by the title of the Dominion of New Zealand. The few remaining restrictions on the powers of the New Zealand Parliament to change the constitution remained, and were confirmed by Section 8 of the Statute of Westminster (1931). This Statute was not, however, adopted by New Zealand until 1947, when the New Zealand Statute of Westminster Adoption Act was passed, to be followed by the New Zealand Constitution (Request and Consent) Act, which, after implementary legislation had been passed by the British Parliament, finally removed the last restrictions on the right of the New Zealand Parliament to amend the constitution. 3 As originally provided, the Legislative Council which formed the Upper House, had a maximum of 15 members, but this number was slowly increased until 1885 when it had 53 members, which included two Maori Members from 1871. From that time the maximum number of Councillors was generally kept at half the membership of the House of Representatives. Legislative Councillors were at first appointed for life, by the Governor. In 1891 their term of appointment was reduced to five years, but they were eligible for re-appointment. In 1914 it was proposed that Councillors should become elective, but although an Act to this effect was passed it was never brought into force. Women were entitled to be Councillors from 1941. In 1950 the Legislative Council was abolished by the Legislative Council Abolition Act; and the New Zealand Parliament thenceforth consisted of a single chamber only. The first House of Representatives had only 37 Members, but the number slowly increased until 1881, when it had 91 Members. In 1887 the number was reduced to 70 and in 1900 increased to 76. Since the passing of the Maori Representation Act in 1867 four Maori Members have been elected by the Maori people in addition. Four additional seats were added in 1969 and the Membership of the House therefore now stands at 84. Women have been eligible for election since 1919. Under the 1852 Constitution a vote could be exercised by any male person over the age of 21 years who possessed certain property qualifications. By the Qualification of Electors Act of 1879 every male person over the age of 21 years was entitled to vote, and women's suffrage was introduced in 1893. By the Legislative Act of 1908 the second ballot was introduced to ensure that elected Members had an absolute majority of the votes polled; but this was repealed in 1913. By the constitution of 1852 the House of Representatives was elected for five years, but this period was reduced to three years in 1879. In 1934 it was increased to four years, but reduced again to three years in 1937. HISTORICAL LIST Captain William Hobson, RN, Lieutenant-Governor 30th January 1840 to 3rd January Lieutenant Willoughby Shortland, RN, Administrator 10th September 1842 to 26th Captain Robert R. Fitzroy, RN, Governor 26th December 1843 to 17th November 1845 *Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Henry Wynyard, CB, 3rd January 1854 to 6th September 1855 Colonel Sir Thomas Gore Browne, CB, 6th September 1855 to 2nd October 1861 Sir George Grey, KCB, 4th December 1861 to 5th February 1868 (Administrator from 3rd October 1861) Sir George Ferguson Bowen, GCMG, 5th February 1868 to 19th March 1873 *Sir George Alfred Arney, Chief Justice, 21st March to 14th June 1873 Sir James Ferguson, Bt., PC (later GCSI, KCMG, CIE), 14th June 1873 to 3rd December 1874 George Augustus Constantine Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby, PC, GCB, GCMG, 9th January 1875 to 21st February 1879 (Administrator from 3rd December 1874) *James Prendergast, Chief Justice, 21st February to 27th March 1879 Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, GCMG (later 1st Baron Rosmead, PC), 17th April 1879 to 8th September 1880 (Administrator from 27th March 1879) James Prendergast, Chief Justice, 9th September to 29th November 1880 *Administering the Government *Sir James Prendergast, Chief Justice, 24th June 1882 to 20th January 1883 Lieutenant-General Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois, GCMG, CB, 20th January 1883 to 22nd March 1889 *Sir James Prendergast, Chief Justice, 23rd March to 2nd May 1889 William Hillier Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow, PC, GCMG, 2nd May 1889 to 24th February 1892 *Sir James Prendergast, Chief Justice, 25th February to 6th June 1892 David Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow and 1st Baron Fairlie, GCMG, 7th June 1892 to 6th February 1897 *Sir James Prendergast, Chief Justice, 8th February to 9th August 1897 Uchter John Mark Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly, GCMG,10th August 1897 to 19th June 1904 William Lee Plunket, 5th Baron Plunket, GCMG, KCVO, KBE, 20th June 1904 to 8th June 1910 *Sir Robert Stout, KCMG, Chief Justice, 8th to 22nd June 1910 Sir John Poynder Dickson-Poynder, Bt., 1st Baron Islington, PC, KCMG, DSO (later GCMG, GBE), 22nd June 1910 to 2nd December 1912 *Sir Robert Stout, KCMG, Chief Justice, 3rd to 19th December 1912 Arthur William de Brito Savile Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, PC, GCMG, MVO (later GCB, GBE), 19th December 1912 to 28th June 1917 GOVERNORS-GENERAL Arthur William de Brito Savile Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, PC, GCB, GCMG GBE, MVO, 28th June 1917 to 7th July 1920 *Sir Robert Stout, PC, KCMG, 8th July to 26th September 1920 Admiral of the Fleet John Rushworth Jellicoe, 1st Viscount Jellicoe of Scapa (later 1st Earl Jellicoe and 1st Viscount Brocas), GCB, OM, GCVO, 27th December 1920 to 25th November 1924 *Sir Robert Stout, PC, KCMG, 26th November to 13th December 1924 General Sir Charles Fergusson, Bt., GCMG, DSO, мVO (later GCB), 13th December 1924 to 8th February 1930 *Sir Michael Myers, Chief Justice, 8th February to 18th March 1930 Charles Bathurst, 1st Baron Bledisloe (later 1st Viscount Bledisloe), PC, GCMG, KBE, 18th March 1930 to 15th March 1935 *Sir Michael Myers, PC, KCMG, Chief Justice, 15th March to 12th April 1935 George Vere Arundel Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway, PC, GCMG, DSO, OBE, 12th April 1935 to 3rd February 1941 *Sir Michael Myers, PC, GCMG, Chief Justice, 3rd to 21st February 1941 Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Cyril Louis Norton Newall, 1st Baron Newal, GCB, OM, GCMG, CBE, 21st February 1941 to 19th April 1946 *Sir Michael Myers, PC, GCMG, Chief Justice, 19th April to 17th June 1946 General Sir Bernard Cyril Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg, VC, GCMG, KCB, KBE, DSO (3 Bars), 17th June 1946 to 15th August 1952 *Sir Humphrey Francis O'Leary, PC, KCMG, Chief Justice, 15th August to 2nd December 1952 Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Willoughby Moke Norrie (later 1st Baron Norrie), GCMG, GCVO, CB, DSO, MC, 2nd December 1952 to 24th July 1957 *Major-General Sir Harold Barrowclough, PC, KCMG, CB, DSO, MC, Chief Justice, 24th July 1957 to 3rd September 1957 and 7th April to 16th June 1960 Charles John Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham, PC, GCMG, TD (later KG) 3rd September 1957 to 13th September 1962 *Major-General Sir Harold Barrowclough, PC, GCMG, CB, DSO, MC, Chief Justice, 13th September 1962 to 9th November 1962 Brigadier Sir Bernard Fergusson, GCMG, GCVO, DSO, OBE, from 9th November 1962 to 20th October 1967 *Rt Hon. Sir Richard Wild, KCMG, Chief Justice, 20th October 1967 to 27th November 1967 Sir Arthur Porritt, Bt., GCMG, GCVO, CBE, from 1st December, 1967 MINISTRIES Henry Sewell, 7th May to 20th May 1856 William Fox, 20th May to 2nd June 1856 Edward William Stafford, 2nd June 1856 to 12th July 1861 William Fox, 12th July 1861 to 6th August 1862 Alfred Domett, 6th August 1862 to 30th October 1863 Frederick Whitaker, 30th October 1863 to 24th November 1864 Frederick Aloysius Weld, 24th November 1864 to 16th October 1865 Edward William Stafford, 16th October 1865 to 28th June 1869 *Administering the Government. William Fox, 28th June 1869 to 10th September 1872 Edward William Stafford, 10th September to 11th October 1872 Julius Vogel, CMG, 8th April 1873 to 6th July 1875 Daniel Pollen, 6th July 1875 to 15th February 1876 Sir Julius Vogel, KCMG, 15th February to 1st September 1876 Harry Albert Atkinson, 1st September to 13th September 1876 Harry Albert Atkinson (Ministry reconstituted), 13th September 1876 to 15th October 1877 Sir George Grey, KCB, 15th October 1877 to 8th October 1879 John Hall, 8th October 1879 to 21st April 1882 Frederick Whitaker, 21st April 1882 to 25th September 1883 Harry Albert Atkinson, 25th September 1883 to 16th August 1884 Robert Stout, 16th August to 28th August 1884 Harry Albert Atkinson, 28th August to 3rd September 1884 Sir Robert Stout, K CMG, 3rd September 1884 to 8th October 1887 Sir Harry Atkinson, KCMG, 8th October 1887 to 24th January 1891 John Ballance, 24th January 1891 to 1st May 1893 R. J. Seddon, PC, 1st May 1893 to 21st June 1906 William Hall-Jones, 21st June to 6th August 1906 Sir Joseph George Ward, Bt., PC, KCMG, 6th August 1906 to 28th March 1912 Wm. Ferguson Massey, PC, 10th July 1912 to 12th August 1915 Wm. Ferguson Massey, PC, (National Ministry), 12th August 1915 to 25th August 1919 Wm. Ferguson Massey, PC, 15th August 1919 to 14th May 1925 Sir Francis Henry Dillon Bell, GCMG, QC, 14th May to 30th May 1925 Joseph Gordon Coates, PC, MC, 30th May 1925 to 10th December 1928 Sir Joseph George Ward, Bt., PC, GCMG, 10th December 1928 to 28th May 1930 George William Forbes, PC, 28th May 1930 to 22nd September 1931 George William Forbes, PC, (Coalition Ministry), 22nd September 1931 to 6th December 1935 Michael Joseph Savage, PC, 6th December 1934 to 1st April 1940 P. Fraser, 1st April to 30th April 1940 P. Fraser, PC, CH, 30th April 1940 to 13th December 1949 Sir Sidney G. Holland, PC, CH, 13th December 1949 to 20th September 1957 Sir Keith J. Holyoake, PC, 20th September to 11th December 1957 Sir Walter Nash, PC, 11th December 1957 to 12th December 1960 Sir Keith J. Holyoake, PC, CH, from 12th December 1960 GOVERNMENT At the General Election in November 1969 the National Party secured 44 seats and the Labour Party 40. After a by-election in 1970 the Labour Party gained a seat at the expense of the National Party. The final division of votes between the parties was National 605,960, Labour 593,253, Social Credit 121,569 and others 20,571. GOVERNOR-GENERAL His Excellency Sir Arthur Porritt, Bt, GCMG, GCVO, CBE CABINET Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of State Services, Minister in Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Overseas Trade, Attorney-General, Minister of Minister of Industries and Commerce, Minister of Mines: Hon. N. L. Shelton Minister of Finance, Minister in Charge of the Department of Statistics, Minister in Charge of Friendly Societies: Hon. R. D. Muldoon Minister of Housing, Minister in Charge of the State Advances Corporation, Minister in Charge of the Public Trust Office, Minister in Charge of the Government Life Insurance Office, Minister in Charge of the State Insurance Office, Minister in Charge of the Earthquake and War Damage Commission: Hon. J. Rae Minister of Health, Minister of Social Security, Minister in Charge of the Child Welfare Division, Minister for the Welfare of Women and Children: Hon. D. N. McKay Minister of Inernal Affairs, Minister of Local Government, Minister of Civil Defence: Hon. D. C. Seath Minister of Works, Minister of Electricity: Hon. P. B. Allen Minister of Agriculture: Hon. D. J. Carter Minister of Transport, Minister of Railways: Hon. J. B. Gordon Minister of Forests, Minister of Lands, Minister of Maori Affairs, Minister of Island Affairs, Minister in Charge of Valuation Department: Hon. D. MacIntyre, DSO, OBE, ED Minister of Defence, Minister of Police, Minister in Charge of War Pensions, Minister in Charge of Rehabilitation: Hon. D. S. Thomson, MC, ED Minister of Customs, Associate Minister of Industries and Commerce: Postmaster General, Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Minister in Charge of the Minister of Justice, Assciate Minister of Labour and Immigration: Minister of Tourism, Minister in Charge of Publicity, Minister of Broadcasting: Associate Minister of Finance: Hon. H. E. L. Pickering Parliamentary Under-Secretary to Minister of Agriculture: A. D. Dick N. E. Kirk HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Speaker: Sir Roy Jack, KB Chairman of Committees: A. E. Allen, MP JUDICIARY Chief Justice: Rt Hon. Sir Richard Wild, KCMG Court of Appeal: Rt Hon. Sir Alfred North (President); Rt Hon. Sir Alexander Turner; |