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 formed	16 August 1884
Date dissolved	8 October 1887
People and organisations
Head of state	Victoria
Head of government	Robert Stout
Deputy head of government	Julius Vogel
Member party	Stout–Vogelites
Opposition party	Conservatives
Opposition leader	Harry Atkinson
History
Election(s)	1884 general election
Predecessor	Atkinson Ministry, 1883–1884
Successor	Atkinson 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

• Government of New Zealand