1877–1879 Grey Ministry Explained

Cabinet Name:Grey Ministry
Cabinet Type:ministries
Jurisdiction:New Zealand
Incumbent:1877–1879
Date Formed:13 October 1877
Date Dissolved:8 October 1879
Government Head:George Grey
State Head:Victoria
Political Party:Greyites
Opposition Party:Conservatives
Previous:Atkinson Ministry, 1876–1877
Successor:Hall Ministry, 1879–1882

The Grey Ministry was a responsible government that was formed in New Zealand. It formed in October 1877 and governed for two years until October 1879. From the outset, Sir George Grey served as Prime Minister.

Background

As Premier, Grey was highly active in promoting middle-class liberalism to New Zealanders sponsoring ideas such as electoral reform, land taxes, breaking up large estates, regulation of wages and working hours and accessible education. However his ideas were too radical for many of his contemporaries. Grey's administration was perceived as defective and his leadership poor. As he never had a safe majority in Parliament, Grey unsuccessfully asked for a dissolution in 1878. Soon after the economy began to slide into recession, which caused much unemployment and as a result, unpopularity. The next year Grey's government lost a division in the House triggering an election. Grey and his followers failed to win a majority and in October 1879 Grey resigned.

Ministers

The following members served in the Grey Ministry:

NameImageOfficeTerm
Sir George GreyPrime Minister15 October 1877 – 8 October 1879
Colonial Secretary15 October 1877 – 18 October 1877
Minister of Customs15 October 1877 – 12 January 1878
12 July 1878 – 8 October 1879
Minister of Marine9 April 1878 – 8 October 1879
Minister of Finance13 July 1879 – 8 October 1879
William LarnachMinister of Finance15 October 1877 – 5 March 1878
Minister of Public Works15 October 1877 – 5 March 1878
James MacandrewMinister of Lands15 October 1877 – 25 July 1878
Minister of Immigration15 October 1877 – 25 July 1878
Minister of Public Works28 March 1878 – 8 October 1879
John SheehanMinister of Native Affairs13 October 1877 – 8 October 1879
Minister of Justice13 October 1877 – 8 October 1879
James Temple FisherPostmaster-General13 October 1877 – 8 October 1879
George Stoddart WhitmoreColonial Secretary18 October 1877 – 8 October 1879
John BallanceMinister of Education12 January 1878 – 1 July 1879
Minister of Finance12 January 1878 – 1 July 1879
Robert StoutAttorney-General13 March 1878 – 25 June 1879
Minister of Lands13 March 1878 – 25 June 1879
Hoani NaheMember of Executive Council17 November 1877 – 8 October 1879
John Nathanial WilsonMember of Executive Council2 November 1878 – 8 October 1879
William SwansonMember of Executive Council17 April 1879 – 15 July 1879
William GisborneMinister of Lands5 July 1879 – 15 July 1879
Minister of Mines5 July 1879 – 8 October 1879
Minister of Immigration5 July 1879 – 8 October 1879
James William ThomsonMember of Executive Council15 July 1879 – 8 October 1879
Minister of Lands16 July 1879 – 8 October 1879

References

See also

List of New Zealand governments