Sewell Ministry, 1856
Encyclopedia
The Sewell Ministry was the first responsible government
in New Zealand. It formed in 1856, but lasted only one month, from 18 April to 20 May. From 7 May onwards, Henry Sewell
was Colonial Secretary, considered to be the equivalent of Prime Minister
. Thus, Sewell became the first Prime Minister of New Zealand.
, the 3rd Governor of New Zealand
, greatly influenced the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852
(UK). The British colony was granted self-government in 1853, which allowed for a bicameral
Parliament consisting of an elected House of Representatives
of 24 to 42 members, and an appointed Legislative Council
of not fewer than ten members. It also allowed for provinces
to be formed, each presided over by an elected Superintendent
, for initially Auckland
, Taranaki
, Wellington
, Nelson
, Canterbury
and Otago
. Elections were held in 1853 for the provincial councils, the superintendents, and the House of Representatives. In this federal system, the central government had responsibility over defence and native affairs, and the provincial governments had substantial powers of their own.
The governance system was set up where European settlements were scattered in small settlements, and communications and travel were rather difficult. Virtually all long distance transport was by sea.
To be eligible to vote in either the provincial or national elections, voters had to be male owners of property valued at £50, or leasehold valued at £10. The first Parliament
had 37 members, elected by 5849 voters, of which around 100 were Maori. Once the provincial governments had been set up, New Zealand had given itself six miniature parliaments, endeavouring to emulate Westminster as best they could, for a total European population of about 30,000. And all of that in addition to the bicameral Parliament.
At the very first meeting of first Parliament in May 1854, a resolution was passed that the House be given responsible and representative
government immediately, i.e. the power to appoint an Executive Council
that has decision-making powers. Robert Wynyard
, the administrator
filling in after Grey's departure and before the arrival of the next Governor, Colonel Thomas Gore Browne
, formed an Executive Council led by James FitzGerald
(the Fitzgerald Ministry). When it became clear that the first ministers had no power, they resigned as the Executive after seven weeks. Wynyard prorogued Parliament as the members refused to accept his claim that responsible government was not possible without royal assent, which had not been given. In the next session, Thomas Forsaith
, a member of the minority that supported Wynyard, was appointed by Wynyard to lead an Executive (the Forsaith Ministry). This appointed ministry did not have the confidence of Parliament and lasted only from 31 August to 2 September 1854.
When Browne arrived, he announced that self-government would begin with the 2nd New Zealand Parliament
.
, who had been a member of the 1st Parliament
, stood for re-election in the Town of Christchurch
electorate, and was returned. As a result of his previous service on Fitzgerald's first Executive Council, Sewell was asked by Browne to form a government. He was appointed to the Executive Council on 18 April 1856, and became Colonial Secretary (considered to be the equivalent of Prime Minister
), at the head of New Zealand's first responsible government, on 7 May. Dillon Bell
became Colonial Treasurer
, Frederick Whitaker
became Attorney-General
, and Henry Tancred became a minister without portfolio
. Whitaker and Tancred were both members of the Legislative Council.
Previously, the Executive Council had functioned as an advisory group to the Governor, and ministerial functions were performed by appointed officials, not politicians. The various "ministers" serving on the Council, such as Andrew Sinclair
(Colonial Secretary since 1844) and Alexander Shepherd (Colonial Treasurer since 1842), retired from their roles.
Responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
in New Zealand. It formed in 1856, but lasted only one month, from 18 April to 20 May. From 7 May onwards, Henry Sewell
Henry Sewell
Henry Sewell was a prominent 19th century New Zealand politician. He was a notable campaigner for New Zealand self-government, and is generally regarded as having been the country's first Premier, having led the Sewell Ministry in 1856.-Early life:Sewell was born on 7 September 1807 in the town of...
was Colonial Secretary, considered to be the equivalent of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
. Thus, Sewell became the first Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Historic context
Sir George GreyGeorge Grey
George Grey may refer to:*Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet , British politician*George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent *Sir George Grey , Governor of Cape Colony, South Australia and New Zealand...
, the 3rd Governor of New Zealand
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
, greatly influenced the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852
New Zealand Constitution Act 1852
The New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that granted self-government to the colony of New Zealand...
(UK). The British colony was granted self-government in 1853, which allowed for a bicameral
Bicameralism
In the government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses....
Parliament consisting of an elected House of Representatives
New Zealand House of Representatives
The New Zealand House of Representatives is the sole chamber of the legislature of New Zealand. The House and the Queen of New Zealand form the New Zealand Parliament....
of 24 to 42 members, and an appointed Legislative Council
New Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...
of not fewer than ten members. It also allowed for provinces
Provinces of New Zealand
The Provinces of New Zealand existed from 1841 until 1876 as a form of sub-national government. They were replaced by counties, which were themselves replaced by districts.Following abolition, the provinces became known as provincial districts...
to be formed, each presided over by an elected Superintendent
Superintendent (politics)
Superintendent was the elected head of each Provincial Council in New Zealand from 1853 to 1876.-Historical context:Provinces existed in New Zealand from 1841 until 1876 as a form of sub-national government. After the initial provinces pre-1853, new provinces were formed by the New Zealand...
, for initially Auckland
Auckland Province
The Auckland Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Anniversary Day:...
, Taranaki
Taranaki Province
The Taranaki Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876...
, Wellington
Wellington Province
The Wellington Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Area:...
, Nelson
Nelson Province
The Nelson Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-History:The Marlborough Province split away from the Nelson Province on 1 November 1859 because the majority of the income of the Provincial Council came from land sales in the...
, Canterbury
Canterbury Province
The Canterbury Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. On the east coast the province was bounded by the Hurunui River in the north and the Waitaki River in the south...
and Otago
Otago Province
The Otago Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Area:The capital of the province was Dunedin...
. Elections were held in 1853 for the provincial councils, the superintendents, and the House of Representatives. In this federal system, the central government had responsibility over defence and native affairs, and the provincial governments had substantial powers of their own.
The governance system was set up where European settlements were scattered in small settlements, and communications and travel were rather difficult. Virtually all long distance transport was by sea.
To be eligible to vote in either the provincial or national elections, voters had to be male owners of property valued at £50, or leasehold valued at £10. The first Parliament
1st New Zealand Parliament
The 1st New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 24 May 1854, following New Zealand's first general election . It was dissolved on 15 September 1855 in preparation for that year's election...
had 37 members, elected by 5849 voters, of which around 100 were Maori. Once the provincial governments had been set up, New Zealand had given itself six miniature parliaments, endeavouring to emulate Westminster as best they could, for a total European population of about 30,000. And all of that in addition to the bicameral Parliament.
At the very first meeting of first Parliament in May 1854, a resolution was passed that the House be given responsible and representative
Representative democracy
Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
government immediately, i.e. the power to appoint an Executive Council
Executive Council of New Zealand
The Executive Council of New Zealand is the body which legally serves the functions of the Cabinet. It has a function similar to that served by the Privy Council in the United Kingdom...
that has decision-making powers. Robert Wynyard
Robert Wynyard
Sir Robert Henry Wynyard was a New Zealand colonial administrator, serving at various times as Lieutenant Governor of New Ulster Province, Administrator of the Government, and was the first Superintendent of Auckland Province.-Lieutenant Governor of New Ulster:From 26 April 1851 to 7 March 1853,...
, the administrator
Administrator of the Government
An Administrator in the constitutional practice of some countries in the Commonwealth is a person who fulfils a role similar to that of a Governor or a Governor-General...
filling in after Grey's departure and before the arrival of the next Governor, Colonel Thomas Gore Browne
Thomas Gore Browne
Colonel Sir Thomas Robert Gore Browne KCMG CB was a British colonial administrator, who was Governor of St Helena, Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Tasmania and Governor of Bermuda.-Early life:...
, formed an Executive Council led by James FitzGerald
James FitzGerald
James Edward FitzGerald was a New Zealand politician. According to some historians, he should be considered the country's first Prime Minister, although a more conventional view is that neither he nor his successor should properly be given that title. He was a notable campaigner for New Zealand...
(the Fitzgerald Ministry). When it became clear that the first ministers had no power, they resigned as the Executive after seven weeks. Wynyard prorogued Parliament as the members refused to accept his claim that responsible government was not possible without royal assent, which had not been given. In the next session, Thomas Forsaith
Thomas Forsaith
Thomas Spencer Forsaith, JP , was a New Zealand politician and an Auckland draper. According to some historians, he was the country's second Premier, although a more conventional view states that neither he nor his predecessor should properly be given that title.-Early life:Forsaith was born in...
, a member of the minority that supported Wynyard, was appointed by Wynyard to lead an Executive (the Forsaith Ministry). This appointed ministry did not have the confidence of Parliament and lasted only from 31 August to 2 September 1854.
When Browne arrived, he announced that self-government would begin with the 2nd New Zealand Parliament
2nd New Zealand Parliament
The 2nd New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 15 April 1856, following New Zealand's 1855 election. It was dissolved on 5 November 1860 in preparation for 1860–61 election...
.
First responsible government
Henry SewellHenry Sewell
Henry Sewell was a prominent 19th century New Zealand politician. He was a notable campaigner for New Zealand self-government, and is generally regarded as having been the country's first Premier, having led the Sewell Ministry in 1856.-Early life:Sewell was born on 7 September 1807 in the town of...
, who had been a member of the 1st Parliament
1st New Zealand Parliament
The 1st New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 24 May 1854, following New Zealand's first general election . It was dissolved on 15 September 1855 in preparation for that year's election...
, stood for re-election in the Town of Christchurch
Christchurch (New Zealand electorate)
Christchurch was a parliamentary electorate in Christchurch, New Zealand. It existed three times. Originally it was the Town of Christchurch from 1853 to 1860. From the 1860–61 election to the 1871 election, it existed as City of Christchurch. It then existed from the 1875–76 election until the...
electorate, and was returned. As a result of his previous service on Fitzgerald's first Executive Council, Sewell was asked by Browne to form a government. He was appointed to the Executive Council on 18 April 1856, and became Colonial Secretary (considered to be the equivalent of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
), at the head of New Zealand's first responsible government, on 7 May. Dillon Bell
Dillon Bell
Sir Francis Dillon Bell KCMG CB MLC was a New Zealand politician of the late 19th century. He served as New Zealand's third Minister of Finance , and later as its third Speaker of the House...
became Colonial Treasurer
Minister of Finance (New Zealand)
The Minister of Finance is a senior figure within the government of New Zealand. The position is often considered to be the most important Cabinet role after that of the Prime Minister....
, 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:...
became Attorney-General
Attorney-General (New Zealand)
The Attorney-General is a political office in New Zealand. It is simultaneously a ministerial position and an administrative office, and has responsibility for supervising New Zealand law and advising the government on legal matters...
, and Henry Tancred became a minister without portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
. Whitaker and Tancred were both members of the Legislative Council.
Previously, the Executive Council had functioned as an advisory group to the Governor, and ministerial functions were performed by appointed officials, not politicians. The various "ministers" serving on the Council, such as Andrew Sinclair
Andrew Sinclair (botanist)
Andrew Sinclair was a British surgeon who was notable for his botanical collections. He served as New Zealand's second Colonial Secretary.-Early life:...
(Colonial Secretary since 1844) and Alexander Shepherd (Colonial Treasurer since 1842), retired from their roles.
Ministers
The following members served on the Sewell Ministry:| Name | Office | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Sewell Henry Sewell Henry Sewell was a prominent 19th century New Zealand politician. He was a notable campaigner for New Zealand self-government, and is generally regarded as having been the country's first Premier, having led the Sewell Ministry in 1856.-Early life:Sewell was born on 7 September 1807 in the town of... |
Member of Executive Council Executive Council of New Zealand The Executive Council of New Zealand is the body which legally serves the functions of the Cabinet. It has a function similar to that served by the Privy Council in the United Kingdom... |
18 April 1856 – 20 May 1856 |
| Colonial Secretary Colonial Secretary (New Zealand) The Colonial Secretary of New Zealand was an office established in 1840 and abolished in 1907. The position should not be confused with the Colonial Secretary of the former Colonial Office of the United Kingdom.... |
7 May 1856 – 20 May 1856 | |
| Dillon Bell Dillon Bell Sir Francis Dillon Bell KCMG CB MLC was a New Zealand politician of the late 19th century. He served as New Zealand's third Minister of Finance , and later as its third Speaker of the House... |
Member of Executive Council | 18 April 1856 – 20 May 1856 |
| Colonial Treasurer Minister of Finance (New Zealand) The Minister of Finance is a senior figure within the government of New Zealand. The position is often considered to be the most important Cabinet role after that of the Prime Minister.... |
7 May 1856 – 20 May 1856 | |
| 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:... |
Member of Executive Council | 18 April 1856 – 20 May 1856 |
| Attorney-General Attorney-General (New Zealand) The Attorney-General is a political office in New Zealand. It is simultaneously a ministerial position and an administrative office, and has responsibility for supervising New Zealand law and advising the government on legal matters... |
7 May 1856 – 20 May 1856 | |
| Henry Tancred | Member of Executive Council | 18 April 1856 – 20 May 1856 |