United Government of New Zealand
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The United Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1928 to 1931, defeating the long-lived Reform Government. The United Party had been formed in 1927 from the remnants of the Liberal Party under Sir Joseph Ward, who had made a political comeback. But Ward was in poor health and was eventually succeeded by George Coates.
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[edit] Significant policies
[edit] Economic
During the election campaign, Ward startled both his supporters and his audience by promising to borrow £70 million in a year to revive the economy; while this is believed to have been a mistake caused by Ward's failing eyesight, or was intended to be £70 million over eight to ten years, borrowed at £6 to £8 million per year (possibly a sympathetic amendment by the newspaper) [1], it was popular with the electorate. Labour lost two urban seats: Auckland East (John A. Lee and Grey Lynn (Fred Bartram), and many town workers and unionists must have heard "the musical chink of the seventy million". ... More by accident than design United seems to have manage to recreate to some extent the old Liberal combination of urban worker and rural support. In the circumstances it was epheremal. [2]
[edit] Welfare
[edit] Education
[edit] Formation
[edit] Defeat
[edit] Electoral results
| Election | Parliament | Seats | Total votes | Percentage | Gain (loss) | Seats won | Change | Majority |
| 1928 | 23rd | 80 | ||||||
| 1931 | 24th | 80 | 396,004 | 55.4% | 51 | -3 | 11 |
[edit] Prime Ministers
The government was led by Sir Joseph Ward from 1928 to 1930, and then George Forbes from 1930 to 1931. Wilson gives the dates of office-holding as 10 December 1928 to 28 May 1930 for the Ward Ministry, and 28 May 1930 to 22 September 1931 for the Forbes Ministry.
[edit] Cabinet Ministers
| Ministry | Minister | Term(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General | Thomas Sidey | 1928 - 1931 |
| Minister of Defence | Thomas Mason Wilford | 1928 - 1929 |
| John Cobbe | 1929 - 1931 | |
| Minister of Education | Harry Atmore | 1928 - 1931 |
| Minister of Finance | Joseph Ward | 1928 - 1930 |
| George Forbes | 1930 - 1931 | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Joseph Ward | 1928 - 1930 |
| George Forbes | 1930 - 1931 | |
| Minister of Health | Arthur Stallworthy | 1928 - 1931 |
| Minister of Justice | Thomas Mason Wilford | 1928 - 1929 |
| Thomas Sidey | 1929 - 1930 | |
| John Cobbe | 1930 -1931 | |
| Minister of Māori Affairs | Apirana Ngata | 1928 - 1931 |
| Minister of Railways | William Taverner | 1928 - 1930 |
| Bill Veitch | 1930 -1931 |
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Brown, Bruce The Rise of New Zealand Labour (1962, Price Milburn, Wellington) page 100-101
- ^ ibid, page 103
[edit] References
- Wilson J. O. New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840-1984 (1985, Government Printer, Wellington)
- Chapman R. M. The Political Scene 1919-1931 (1969, New Zealand History Topic Book by Heinemann)
