New Liberal Party (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
The New Liberal Party of New Zealand
was a splinter group of the original Liberal Party
. It was formed at a meeting in the Christchurch suburb of Papanui in June 1905 by two Liberal-aligned independent
s who sought a more "progressive" policy than that followed by the Liberal leader, Richard Seddon
, and was similar to the Radical Party
in 1896.
The New Liberal Party was launched by Harry Bedford
and Francis Fisher
, but attracted a number of other MPs as well. George Laurenson
, Frederick Baume
, Alexander Hogg
, William Tanner
, and William Barber
, all dissident Liberal MPs, associated themselves with the party, and two independents who had formerly been aligned with the loose opposition block, Ewen Alison
and Alfred Harding
, also joined. Tommy Taylor, a radical independent with a reputation as a firebrand, became the New Liberal Party's leader. Some Liberal dissidents, however, refused to be involved in the new party - the most notable being John Millar
, George Fowlds
, and Robert McNab
. Many critics of Seddon believed that the New Liberals risked splitting the liberal vote and allowing a conservative government.
The New Liberal Party announced an intention to contest the 1905 elections
, but there was debate as to the exact nature of the party. Some saw the New Liberals as being complementary to (and possibly even a part of) the Liberal Party, spurring it forward but not directly challenging it. Others saw the New Liberals as a completely independent group that would stand against and eventually supplant the original Liberals. As a result of this disagreement, the New Liberals never developed a party organisation outside Parliament, and did not institute block voting - the party consisted of little more than regular caucus
meetings.
The New Liberals suffered considerable damage from the so-called "voucher incident", in which Francis Fisher alleged that Richard Seddon's son had been received payment from a government department for work he had not done. The allegations were disproven, and the New Liberals suffered a considerable public backlash. As Fisher had not consulted his colleagues before making the accusation, it also strained relations between party members. William Barber and Alexander Hogg sought rapproachment with Seddon, and others also appeared to distance themselves.
As the election approached, the New Liberal Party comprised only Bedford, Fisher, and Taylor. The party, which now considered itself fully separate from the Liberals, contested a number of seats, including those held by Liberal MPs. Of the party's three MPs, two were defeated — Fisher was the only one to remain in Parliament. By the 1908 elections
, the New Liberal Party was defunct, and Fisher was re-elected as an independent. He later joined the Reform Party
, established in opposition to the Liberals.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
was a splinter group of the original Liberal Party
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...
. It was formed at a meeting in the Christchurch suburb of Papanui in June 1905 by two Liberal-aligned independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
s who sought a more "progressive" policy than that followed by the Liberal leader, Richard Seddon
Richard Seddon
Richard John Seddon , sometimes known as King Dick, is to date the longest serving Prime Minister of New Zealand. He is regarded by some, including historian Keith Sinclair, as one of New Zealand's greatest political leaders....
, and was similar to the Radical Party
Radical Party (New Zealand)
The Radical Party was a proposed new political party in New Zealand. It was part of an abortive attempt by members of the Liberal Party to establish a breakaway group. No actual party was ever formed, but the name was frequently applied to the group of dissident MPs by the press.The leaders of the...
in 1896.
The New Liberal Party was launched by Harry Bedford
Harry Bedford (politician)
Harry Dodgshun Bedford was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for the City of Dunedin.-Member of Parliament:Harry Bedford represented one of the multi-member City of Dunedin seats in the New Zealand Parliament from 1902 to 1905....
and Francis Fisher
Francis Fisher
Francis Marion Bates Fisher was a New Zealand Member of Parliament from Wellington. He was known as Rainbow Fisher for his frequent changes of political allegiance. Fisher was an internationally successful tennis player.-Early life:...
, but attracted a number of other MPs as well. George Laurenson
George Laurenson
George Laurenson was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for in the South Island.-Member of Parliament:George Laurenson represented the Lyttelton electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives for fourteen years from 1899 to his death in 1913...
, Frederick Baume
Frederick Baume
Frederick Ehrenfried Baume was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party.From 1902 to 1905 he was one of the three Members of Parliament representing the multi-member City of Auckland electorate....
, Alexander Hogg
Alexander Wilson Hogg
Alexander Wilson Hogg was a Member of Parliament for Masterton, in the North Island of New Zealand.-Member of Parliament:...
, William Tanner
William Tanner (New Zealand)
William Wilcox Tanner was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party. In 1905 he was associated with the New Liberal Party group.-Early life:...
, and William Barber
William Henry Peter Barber
William Henry Peter Barber was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for Newtown in Wellington.-Member of Parliament:William Barber represented the Wellington electorate of Newtown for the whole of its existence, from 1902 to 1908...
, all dissident Liberal MPs, associated themselves with the party, and two independents who had formerly been aligned with the loose opposition block, Ewen Alison
Ewen Alison
Ewen William Alison was an Independent Conservative Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He won the Auckland seat of Waitemata in the 1902 general election, and held it to 1908, when he retired....
and Alfred Harding
Alfred Harding
Alfred Ernest Harding was an Independent Conservative Member of Parliament in New Zealand. He won the North Auckland seat of in the and held it to , when he was defeated by the Liberal candidate, John Stallworthy...
, also joined. Tommy Taylor, a radical independent with a reputation as a firebrand, became the New Liberal Party's leader. Some Liberal dissidents, however, refused to be involved in the new party - the most notable being John Millar
John A. Millar
John Andrew Millar was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party from Otago.Born in Jalandhar, India, he came to New Zealand in 1870...
, George Fowlds
George Fowlds
Sir George Matthew Fowlds CBE was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party.-Member of Parliament:George Fowlds represented the City of Auckland electorate from 1899 to 1902, and then the Grey Lynn electorate from 1902 to 1911....
, and Robert McNab
Robert McNab
Dr Robert McNab was a New Zealand lawyer, farmer, historian, and politician of the Liberal Party.He represented the Mataura electorate from 1893 to 1896 when he was defeated by George Richardson. In 1898 Richardson was adjudged bankrupt...
. Many critics of Seddon believed that the New Liberals risked splitting the liberal vote and allowing a conservative government.
The New Liberal Party announced an intention to contest the 1905 elections
New Zealand general election, 1905
The New Zealand general election of 1905 was held on Wednesday, 6 December in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 20 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 16th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
, but there was debate as to the exact nature of the party. Some saw the New Liberals as being complementary to (and possibly even a part of) the Liberal Party, spurring it forward but not directly challenging it. Others saw the New Liberals as a completely independent group that would stand against and eventually supplant the original Liberals. As a result of this disagreement, the New Liberals never developed a party organisation outside Parliament, and did not institute block voting - the party consisted of little more than regular caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
meetings.
The New Liberals suffered considerable damage from the so-called "voucher incident", in which Francis Fisher alleged that Richard Seddon's son had been received payment from a government department for work he had not done. The allegations were disproven, and the New Liberals suffered a considerable public backlash. As Fisher had not consulted his colleagues before making the accusation, it also strained relations between party members. William Barber and Alexander Hogg sought rapproachment with Seddon, and others also appeared to distance themselves.
As the election approached, the New Liberal Party comprised only Bedford, Fisher, and Taylor. The party, which now considered itself fully separate from the Liberals, contested a number of seats, including those held by Liberal MPs. Of the party's three MPs, two were defeated — Fisher was the only one to remain in Parliament. By the 1908 elections
New Zealand general election, 1908
The New Zealand general election of 1908 was held on Tuesday, 17 November, 24 November and 1 December in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 2 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 17th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
, the New Liberal Party was defunct, and Fisher was re-elected as an independent. He later joined the Reform Party
New Zealand Reform Party
The Reform Party, formally the New Zealand Political Reform League, was New Zealand's second major political party, having been founded as a conservative response to the original Liberal Party...
, established in opposition to the Liberals.