Reform Government of New Zealand

The Reform Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1912 to 1928. It is perhaps best remembered for its anti-trade union stance in the Waihi miners' strike of 1912 and a dockworkers' strike the following year. It also governed during World War I, during which a temporary coalition was formed with the Liberal Party.

Significant policies

Industrial

• Sided with employers in the 1912 Waihi miners' strike and the waterfront workers' strike of 1913. In the latter strike, civilians enrolled as 'special constables' became known as 'Massey's Cossacks'.
• The Board of Trade Act (1919) gave government the power to regulate industries "in the interests of economic welfare".[1]

Health

• Compulsory medical inspection of schoolchildren was introduced (1912).[1]
• A minimum drinking age of 21 was introduced (1914).[1]
• A Board of Health was set up (1920).[1]

Welfare

• A juvenile probation scheme was established (1913).[1]
• Widow's pensions were extended to the wives of mental hospital patients (1912).[2]
• From 1914 onwards, a dependent child's exemption for income tax purposes was provided.[3]
• The Miners Phthisis Act (1915) introduced pensions for completely incapacitated victims of pneumoconiosis.[4]
• Pensions were introduced for miners' widows (1915).[2]
• The War Pensions Act of 1915 introduced war widows pensions, which were paid without a means test from 1916 onwards.[2]
• The Housing Act (1919) specified sums of government money "that local authorities could borrow to erect workers' dwellings".[5]
• The war pensions system was extended (1919).[1]
• Women were made eligible for Parliament (1919).[1]
• Pensions for the blind were introduced (1924).[1]
• Family allowances were introduced for the second child onwards (1926).[1]
• Legislation was introduced (1922) which increasingly placed farm products under the control of boards.[1]
• Children's Courts were established (1925).[1]
• Borstal institutions were established (1924).[1]
• The Child Welfare Act 1925 introduced compulsory inquiries into the living circumstances of all children born outside marriage.[2]

Education

• The Education Act (1914) made it compulsory for public secondary schools to take free-place pupils.[1]
• The school-leaving age was raised to 14 (1914).[1]

Foreign affairs and military

• Brought New Zealand into World War I with Britain and the Allies, see Military history of New Zealand in World War I.
• Introduced conscription in 1916, following registration of male residents between 17 and 60 under the National Registration Act, 1915.

Formation

From the start of representative government in New Zealand, in the mid nineteenth century, until the 1890s, New Zealand governments were not formed on a party basis but were rather loose and shifting groups of individuals. In the 1880s and 1890s a group of politicians formed themselves into New Zealand's first true political party, the Liberals, which became the Liberal government in 1890. It remained in power for more than two decades, testimony not only to its popular policies and dynamic leadership but also to its organisation and party structure.

1912 cartoon about the Massey Government

The opposition was initially disorganised and fractured. John Bryce was briefly recognised as Leader of the Opposition in 1891, then William Rolleston from 1891 to 1893 and William Russell from 1894 to 1901. William Massey held the position from 1903, and by 1909 the opposition had coalesced into a new party known as the Reform Party under Massey's leadership.

Although the 1911 election saw Reform win 37 seats to the Liberal Party's 33, the balance of power was held by several independent Members of Parliament, who supported the Liberals. Over the next few months, however, enough switched sides for the Liberal government to lose a confidence vote, thus bringing Reform to power in July 1912.

1914 election and wartime coalition

Following the 1914 election, Reform held only 40 seats in the 80 seat parliament. By this time only one independent MP remained, the left-wing John Payne. Neither he nor the two small workers' parties (United Labour and Social Democrats) in parliament were likely to ally with the right-wing Reform Party.

However, the outbreak of World War I earlier in the year had created a need for national unity, and a hitherto unlikely coalition was formed between Reform and the party Reform had been set up to defeat, the Liberals. Massey retained his position as Prime Minister, with Liberal leader Joseph Ward becoming unofficial co-leader. Payne also supported the war, but both United Labour and the Social Democrats were against it, especially conscription. In 1916 they combined to form the New Zealand Labour Party, which became the official opposition. Several Labour MPs were jailed for their anti-conscription activities or for refusing military service.

1919 election

The coalition became increasingly difficult to manage, due partly to a personality clash between Massey and Ward. Following the end of the war in November 1918, the coalition dissolved, the two parties fought the subsequent election separately. Reform won an additional six seats, gaining a working majority at last.

1922 election

Economic problems had reduced the government's popularity, and the election left Reform with only 37 seats - four short of a majority. Massey was forced to cobble together a coalition of Reform, independents, and two Liberal MPs who were later rewarded with seats in the Legislative Council. The Labour Party was gaining considerable support, causing Massey to worry that it would soon supersede the Liberals.

1925 election

Labour continued to grow in popularity, and in the 1925 election gained more seats than the Liberals. The two parties were competing for many of the same voters, and for the anti-government vote in particular, and this worked to Reform's benefit. Although the party gained an additional 18 seats, its share of the vote rose by only 8.3%, suggesting that it benefitted from vote-splitting in many electorates.

1928 election

Following its disastrous performance in the 1925 election, the Liberal Party reconstituted itself as the United Party and regained some of its lost popularity. Reform and United each won 27 seats, with the Labour Party holding the balance of power with 19. Labour were long-term opponents of Reform and supported United, enabling United to take power.

Election results

Election	Parliament	Seats	Total votes	Percentage	Gain (loss)	Seats won	Change	Majority
1911	18th	80	590,042			37
1914	19th	80	616,043			40	+3	0
1919	20th	80	683,420			47	+7	7
1922	21st	80	700,111	39.4%		37	-10
1925	22nd	80	678,877	47.79%	+8.39%	55	+18	15
1928	23rd	80	844,633	34.8%	-12.99%	27	-28

Prime ministers

The government was led by William Massey from 10 July 1912 until his death on 10 May 1925. Francis Bell, who had earlier been Acting Prime Minister, briefly became Prime Minister (from 14 to 30 May 1925) but declined his party's offer of the job on a permanent basis. Gordon Coates was then appointed from 30 May 1925, and held the position until 10 December 1928, as his party was defeated in the 1928 general election.

• Prime Ministers of the Reform Government
• 
  William Massey
  served 1912-1925
• 
  Francis Bell
  served 1925
• 
  Gordon Coates
  served 1925-1928

Cabinet Ministers

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Start	End
Prime Minister	William Massey		Reform	10 July 1912	10 May 1925
	Francis Bell		Reform	14 May 1925	30 May 1925
	Gordon Coates		Reform	30 May 1925	10 December 1928
Minister of Agriculture	William Massey		Reform	10 July 1912	12 August 1915
	William MacDonald		Liberal	12 August 1915	22 August 1919
	William Nosworthy		Reform	22 August 1919	18 January 1926
	Oswald Hawken		Reform	18 January 1926	24 August 1928
Attorney-General	Alexander Herdman		Reform	10 July 1912	4 February 1918
	Francis Bell		Reform	4 February 1918	18 January 1926
	William Downie Stewart		Reform	18 January 1926	24 May 1926
	Frank Rolleston		Reform	24 May 1926	10 December 1928
Minister of Customs	Francis Fisher		Reform	18 January 1926	7 January 1915
	William Herries		Reform	12 August 1915	6 December 1935
	Arthur Myers		Liberal	12 August 1915	22 August 1919
	William Herries		Reform	22 August 1919	7 February 1921
	William Downie Stewart		Reform	9 March 1921	10 December 1928
Minister of Defence	James Allen		Reform	10 July 1912	28 April 1920
	Heaton Rhodes		Reform	21 July 1920	18 January 1926
	Frank Rolleston		Reform	18 January 1926	26 November 1928
	William Downie Stewart		Reform	26 November 1928	10 December 1928
Minister of Education	James Allen		Reform	10 July 1912	12 August 1915
	Josiah Hanan		Liberal	12 August 1915	22 August 1919
	Francis Bell		Reform	22 August 1919	3 April 1920
	James Parr		Reform	3 April 1920	24 May 1926
	Robert Alexander Wright		Reform	24 May 1926	24 August 1928
Minister of Finance	James Allen		Reform	10 July 1912	12 August 1915
	Joseph Ward		Liberal	12 August 1915	22 August 1919
	James Allen		Reform	22 August 1919	28 April 1920
	William Massey		Reform	12 May 1920	10 May 1925
	William Nosworthy		Reform	10 May 1925	24 May 1926
	William Downie Stewart		Reform	24 May 1926	24 August 1928
Minister of Foreign Affairs	James Allen		Reform	24 November 1919	28 April 1920
	Ernest Lee		Reform	17 May 1920	13 January 1923
	Francis Bell		Reform	7 June 1923	18 January 1926
	William Nosworthy		Reform	24 May 1926	24 August 1928
	Gordon Coates		Reform	25 August 1928	10 December 1928
Commissioner of State Forests	Francis Bell		Reform	10 July 1912	21 February 1922
	Heaton Rhodes		Reform	21 February 1922	18 January 1926
	Oswald Hawken		Reform	18 January 1926	28 November 1928
	Kenneth Williams		Reform	28 November 1928	10 December 1928
Minister of Health	Heaton Rhodes		Reform	10 July 1912	12 August 1915
	George Warren Russell		Liberal	12 August 1915	22 August 1919
	Francis Bell		Reform	4 September 1919	3 April 1920
	James Parr		Reform	3 April 1920	7 June 1923
	Maui Pomare		Reform	7 June 1923	18 January 1926
	Alexander Young		Reform	18 January 1926	10 December 1928
Minister of Immigration	Francis Bell		Reform	10 July 1912	12 August 1915
	Josiah Hanan		Liberal	12 August 1915	16 August 1915
	Francis Bell		Reform	16 August 1915	14 May 1920
	William Nosworthy		Reform	14 May 1920	10 December 1928
Minister of Industries and Commerce	William Fraser		Reform	10 July 1912	26 July 1912
	William Massey		Reform	26 July 1912	22 June 1920
	Ernest Lee		Reform	22 June 1920	13 January 1923
	William Downie Stewart		Reform	13 January 1923	24 May 1926
	Alexander McLeod		Reform	24 May 1926	28 November 1928
	Alexander Young		Reform	28 November 1928	10 December 1928
Minister of Internal Affairs	Francis Bell		Reform	10 July 1912	12 August 1915
	George Warren Russell		Liberal	12 August 1915	25 August 1919
	John Bird Hine		Reform	4 September 1919	17 January 1920
	Francis Bell		Reform	17 January 1920	10 May 1925
	George James Anderson		Reform	17 May 1920	1 March 1921
	William Downie Stewart		Reform	1 March 1921	27 June 1923
	Richard Bollard		Reform	27 June 1923	25 August 1927
	Māui Pōmare		Reform	25 August 1928	10 December 1928
Minister of Island Territories	James Allen		Reform	24 November 1919	28 April 1920
	Ernest Lee		Reform	17 May 1920	13 January 1923
	Francis Bell		Reform	7 June 1923	18 January 1926
	William Nosworthy		Reform	24 May 1926	24 August 1928
	Gordon Coates		Reform	25 August 1928	10 December 1928
Minister of Justice	Alexander Herdman		Reform	10 July 1912	12 August 1915
	Robert McNab		Liberal	12 August 1915	20 February 1917
	Josiah Hanan		Liberal	20 February 1917	14 November 1917
	Thomas Wilford		Liberal	14 November 1917	25 August 1919
	Gordon Coates		Reform	4 September 1919	3 April 1920
	Ernest Lee		Reform	3 April 1920	13 January 1923
	Francis Bell		Reform	13 January 1923	27 June 1923
	James Parr		Reform	27 June 1923	18 January 1926
	Frank Rolleston		Reform	18 January 1926	26 November 1928
	William Downie Stewart		Reform	26 November 1928	10 December 1928
Minister of Labour	William Massey		Reform	10 July 1912	14 May 1920
	William Herries		Reform	17 May 1920	7 February 1921
	George Anderson		Reform	1 March 1921	26 November 1928
	Robert Alexander Wright		Reform	26 November 1928	10 December 1928
Minister of Marine	Francis Fisher		Reform	10 July 1912	7 January 1915
	William Herries		Reform	7 January 1915	12 August 1915
	Robert McNab		Liberal	12 August 1915	3 February 1917
	George Warren Russell		Liberal	20 February 1917	14 November 1917
	Thomas Wilford		Liberal	14 November 1917	25 August 1919
	William Herries		Reform	4 September 1919	7 February 1921
	Francis Bell		Reform	1 March 1921	21 February 1922
	George Anderson		Reform	21 February 1922	24 August 1928
	Francis Bell		Reform	24 August 1928	10 December 1928
Minister of Mines	William Fraser		Reform	10 July 1912	12 August 1915
	William MacDonald		Liberal	12 August 1915	22 August 1919
	William Fraser		Reform	4 September 1919	27 July 1920
	William Massey		Reform	3 April 1920	15 April 1921
	George Anderson		Reform	15 April 1921	28 November 1928
	Gordon Coates		Reform	28 November 1928	10 December 1928
Minister of Native Affairs	William Herries		Reform	10 July 1912	7 February 1921
	Gordon Coates		Reform	7 February 1921	10 December 1928
Postmaster-General	Heaton Rhodes		Reform	10 July 1912	12 August 1915
	Joseph Ward		Liberal	12 August 1915	4 September 1919
	Gordon Coates		Reform	4 September 1919	30 May 1925
	James Parr		Reform	30 May 1925	24 May 1926
	William Nosworthy		Reform	24 May 1926	10 December 1928
Minister of Railways	William Herries		Reform	10 July 1912	3 September 1919
	William Massey		Reform	3 September 1919	16 May 1922
	David Guthrie		Reform	16 May 1922	6 June 1923
	Gordon Coates		Reform	6 June 1923	10 December 1928
Minister of Revenue	James Allen		Reform	10 July 1912	12 August 1915
	Joseph Ward		Liberal	12 August 1915	21 August 1919
	James Allen		Reform	4 September 1919	28 April 1920
	William Massey		Reform	28 April 1920	10 May 1925
	William Nosworthy		Reform	14 May 1925	24 May 1926
	William Downie Stewart		Reform	24 May 1926	10 December 1928
Minister of Works	William Fraser		Reform	10 July 1912	3 April 1920
	Gordon Coates		Reform	3 April 1920	12 June 1926
	Kenneth Williams		Reform	12 June 1926	10 December 1928

See also

• Governments of New Zealand
• Reform Party (New Zealand)

References

1. Poverty and Progress in New Zealand: A Re-assessment by William Ball Sutch
2. http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/journals-and-magazines/social-policy-journal/spj10/maintaining-sole-parent-families-in-new-zealand.html
3. Pragmatism and Progress: Social Security in the Seventies by Brian Easton
4. Breadwinning: New Zealand Women and the State by Melanie Nolan
5. http://nzinitiative.org.nz/site/nzinitiative/files/publications/PRICED%20OUT%20-%20FULL%20RES.pdf