Continuous Ministry
Encyclopedia
The Continuous Ministry or Continuous Cabinet was an informal designation used to describe two nineteenth century colonial governments: in Queensland, Australia from 1890 to 1899; and in New Zealand from 1876 to 1890 (or 1887) except for 1877-79 & 1884-87.
that existed from 1890 to 1899, and provided six colonial-era Premiers of Queensland
.
The Ministry was formed from a merging of Samuel Griffith
's Liberal faction with Sir Thomas McIlwraith
's Conservatives, forming the humorously-titled Griffilwraith. This grouping encompassed all but a few dissident liberal politicians in the Legislative Assembly
and maintained control of the Parliament for two decades by steadily promoting its members into ministerial positions.
The Ministerialists, many of whom were businessmen for whom their parliamentary career was not their primary concern, were primarily conservative
in character. They supported the development of the colony's sugar cane, beef cattle
, mining
and wool
industries that were to remain the backbone of Queensland's economy for a century.
The Ministerialists fractured in December 1899 and fell to the Labor
government of Anderson Dawson
, which, with a six-day period in office, was the first government of its type anywhere in the world. The shocked faction quickly regrouped to defeat Dawson on the floor of Parliament.
The Ministry eventually broke apart completely after disgruntled backbenchers became embittered by their exclusion from the inner clique of cabinet ministers. Digby Denham
led a group into the coalition government of Arthur Morgan
, and the Continuous Ministry came to an end.
was the leading figure, although Sir John Hall
and Sir Frederick Whitaker
also served as Premiers, and William Rolleston
was also part of the ministry. The term derives from William Pember Reeves
, who as a Liberal
politician emphasized the oligarchical and conservative tendencies of the ministry members, and downplayed as reformers from above Atkinson and Rolleston, even though they advocated some reforms similar to those of the Liberals
of the 1890s. A later historian, Keith Sinclair, detached the Scarecrow Ministry of 1887-90 as a new government rather than a continuation of the Continuous Ministry, although this ministry was formed by Atkinson . As formal political parties did not exist at this time, ministries had to be formed by negotiation with individual members, and were liable to be defeated.
The ministries of the Continuous Ministry were:
The two (or three) ministries in the period that were not part of the Continuous Ministry were:
Continuous Ministry (Queensland)
The Continuous Ministry or Continuous Cabinet was an informal designation used to describe the grouping in the Queensland ParliamentParliament of Queensland
The Parliament of Queensland is the legislature of Queensland, Australia. According to the state's constitution, the Parliament consists of the Queen and the Legislative Assembly. It is the only unicameral state parliament in the country, the upper chamber, the Legislative Council, having been...
that existed from 1890 to 1899, and provided six colonial-era Premiers of Queensland
Premiers of Queensland
Before the 1890s, there was no developed party system in Queensland. Political affiliation labels before that time indicate a general tendency only. Before the end of the first decade of the twentieth century, political parties were more akin to parliamentary factions, and were fluid, informal and...
.
The Ministry was formed from a merging of Samuel Griffith
Samuel Griffith
Sir Samuel Walker Griffith GCMG QC, was an Australian politician, Premier of Queensland, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and a principal author of the Constitution of Australia.-Early life:...
's Liberal faction with Sir Thomas McIlwraith
Thomas McIlwraith
Sir Thomas McIlwraith KCMG was for many years the dominant figure of colonial politics in Queensland. He was Premier of Queensland from 1877 to 1883, again in 1888, and for a third time in 1893...
's Conservatives, forming the humorously-titled Griffilwraith. This grouping encompassed all but a few dissident liberal politicians in the Legislative Assembly
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
and maintained control of the Parliament for two decades by steadily promoting its members into ministerial positions.
The Ministerialists, many of whom were businessmen for whom their parliamentary career was not their primary concern, were primarily conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
in character. They supported the development of the colony's sugar cane, beef cattle
Beef cattle
Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production . The meat of cattle is known as beef. When raised in a feedlot cattle are known as feeder cattle. Many such feeder cattle are born in cow-calf operations specifically designed to produce beef calves...
, mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
and wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
industries that were to remain the backbone of Queensland's economy for a century.
The Ministerialists fractured in December 1899 and fell to the Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
government of Anderson Dawson
Anderson Dawson
Andrew Dawson , usually known as Anderson Dawson, was an Australian politician, the Premier of Queensland for one week in 1899...
, which, with a six-day period in office, was the first government of its type anywhere in the world. The shocked faction quickly regrouped to defeat Dawson on the floor of Parliament.
The Ministry eventually broke apart completely after disgruntled backbenchers became embittered by their exclusion from the inner clique of cabinet ministers. Digby Denham
Digby Denham
Digby Frank Denham was an Australian politician, businessman and leading Queensland Orangeman. He was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1902 until 1915 representing the seat of Oxley, and was Premier of Queensland from 7 February 1911 to 1 June 1915...
led a group into the coalition government of Arthur Morgan
Arthur Morgan
Arthur Morgan may refer to:* Arthur Ernest Morgan , U. S. administrator, educator and engineer* Arthur Morgan , Premier of Queensland, Australia...
, and the Continuous Ministry came to an end.
Premiers during the Continuous Ministry
- Samuel GriffithSamuel GriffithSir Samuel Walker Griffith GCMG QC, was an Australian politician, Premier of Queensland, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and a principal author of the Constitution of Australia.-Early life:...
August 1890-March 1893 - Sir Thomas McIlwraithThomas McIlwraithSir Thomas McIlwraith KCMG was for many years the dominant figure of colonial politics in Queensland. He was Premier of Queensland from 1877 to 1883, again in 1888, and for a third time in 1893...
March 1893-October 1893 - Hugh NelsonHugh NelsonSir Hugh Muir Nelson, KCMG was Premier of Queensland from 1893 to 1898.Nelson was born at Kilmarnock, Scotland. His father, Dr William Lambie Nelson, was elected to the first Queensland parliament in 1860 but was unseated because he was a minister of religion...
October 1893-April 1898 - Thomas ByrnesThomas Joseph ByrnesThomas Joseph Byrnes was Premier of Queensland from April 1898 until his death, having previously served in several ministerial positions in his parliamentary career.-Early life:...
April 1898-October 1898 - James DicksonJames DicksonSir James Robert Dickson, KCMG was an Australian politician and businessman, the 13th Premier of Queensland and a member of the first federal ministry....
October 1898-December 1899 - Robert PhilpRobert PhilpSir Robert Philp, KCMG was a Queensland businessman and politician who was Premier of Queensland from December 1899 to September 1903 and again from November 1907 to February 1908.-Early life:...
December 1899-September 1903
Continuous Ministry (New Zealand)
The Continuous Ministry is a term used to describe the government of New Zealand from 1876 to 1890 (or 1887), except for 1877-79 and 1884-87. Sir Harry AtkinsonHarry Atkinson
Henry Albert "Harry" Atkinson served as the tenth Premier of New Zealand on four separate occasions in the late 19th century, and was Colonial Treasurer for a total of ten years...
was the leading figure, although Sir John Hall
John Hall (New Zealand)
Sir John Hall was born in Kingston upon Hull, England, and later became the 12th Prime Minister of New Zealand. He was also Mayor of Christchurch.-Migration to New Zealand:...
and Sir Frederick Whitaker
Frederick Whitaker
Sir Frederick Whitaker, KCMG was an English-born New Zealand politician who served twice as the fifth Premier of New Zealand and six times as Attorney-General.-Early life:...
also served as Premiers, and William Rolleston
William Rolleston
William Rolleston was a New Zealand politician, public administrator, educationalist and Canterbury provincial superintendent.-Early life:...
was also part of the ministry. The term derives from William Pember Reeves
William Pember Reeves
The Hon. William Pember Reeves was a New Zealand statesman, historian and poet, who promoted social reform.-Biography:...
, who as a Liberal
New Zealand Liberal Party
The New Zealand Liberal Party is generally regarded as having been the first real political party in New Zealand. It governed from 1891 until 1912. Out of office, the Liberals gradually found themselves pressed between the conservative Reform Party and the growing Labour Party...
politician emphasized the oligarchical and conservative tendencies of the ministry members, and downplayed as reformers from above Atkinson and Rolleston, even though they advocated some reforms similar to those of the Liberals
First Liberal Government of New Zealand
The First Liberal Government of New Zealand was the first responsible government in New Zealand politics organised along party lines. The Government formed following the founding of the Liberal Party and took office on the 24 January 1891, and governed New Zealand for over 21 years until 10 July...
of the 1890s. A later historian, Keith Sinclair, detached the Scarecrow Ministry of 1887-90 as a new government rather than a continuation of the Continuous Ministry, although this ministry was formed by Atkinson . As formal political parties did not exist at this time, ministries had to be formed by negotiation with individual members, and were liable to be defeated.
The ministries of the Continuous Ministry were:
- Atkinson Ministry, 1876: 1 September 1876 to 13 September 1876
- Atkinson Ministry, 1876-1877 (Reconstituted): 13 September 1876 to 13 October 1877
- Hall Ministry, 1879-1882: 8 October 1879 to 21 April 1882
- Whitaker Ministry, 1882-1883: 21 April 1882 to 25 September 1883
- Atkinson Ministry, 1883-1884: 25 September 1883 to 16 August 1884
- Atkinson Ministry, 1884: 28 August 1884 to 3 September 1884
- Atkinson Ministry, 1887-91: 8 October 1887 to 24 January 1891 (known as the Scarecrow Ministry)
The two (or three) ministries in the period that were not part of the Continuous Ministry were:
- Grey Ministry, 1877-79: 13 October 1877 to 8 October 1879
- Stout-Vogel Ministry, 1884: 16 August 1884 to 28 August 1884
- Stout-Vogel Ministry, 1884-1887: 3 September 1884 to 8 October 1887