The Fourth Atkinson Ministry was a responsible government in New Zealand, which lasted less than a week. It formed on 28 August 1884 after the fall of the first attempt at a Stout-Vogel coalition and lasted until Robert Stout and Sir Julius Vogel took back their majority on 3 September.[1]
After the 1884 general election, in which a number of factions were returned to the House, a brief coalition between Sir Julius Vogel and Robert Stout took office, but was immediately ousted in a confidence motion proposed by James William Thomson.[2] Thomson failed to form an alternative majority and advised the Governor to call Sir George Grey; Grey attempted to form a coalition with ex-Premier Harry Atkinson but was unsuccessful as Atkinson believed their followings would refuse to combine.[3] Atkinson was then appointed Premier and attempted to come to an arrangement with Robert Stout, but failed.[4]
Within a week, the ephemeral Fourth Atkinson Government was unseated in another no-confidence vote, this time with the Greyites voting them down in revenge for the earlier snub.
Atkinson’s Ministry included Edward Wakefield, a nephew of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, who had pledged at the election to oppose Atkinson. After the fall of the Government, Wakefield’s constituents presented him with a large dead rat.[5]
The following members served in the fourth Atkinson Ministry:[6]
| Name | Portrait | Office | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Atkinson | Premier | 28 August 1884 - 3 September 1884 | |
| Commissioner of Stamps | |||
| George McLean, MLC | Commissioner of Trade and Customs | ||
| Edwin Mitchelson | Minister for Public Works | ||
| Edward Wakefield | Colonial Secretary | ||
| Richmond Hursthouse | Minister of Lands and Immigration | ||
| William Russell | Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Telegraphs |