The New Zealand Conservative Party, 1891-1903

Abstract

New Zealand's state experiments of the Liberal era have been heralded as pragmatic acts of governmental genius, "socialism without doctrines." These experiments, however, were not adopted unanimously. A small but resolute group of Conservative MHR's fought against the Liberals' legislation, which they found vexatious and mischievous, and their administration, viewed as corrupt and venal. Like the Liberals, this group adopted no particular ideology, but adhered to a broad philosophy. Their doctrine was one of individual enterprise, fiscal responsibility, private property, limited government intervention, and economic, clean and efficient administration. The Conservatives were a united and cohesive political party, born out of opposition to the radical legislation of Ballance's Liberal Government, formed in 1891. Despite the ambiguous position of William Rolleston, party leader from 1891 to 1893, they struggled together against the Liberals' land policies. They opposed overseas borrowing and protective tariffs and objected to the introduction of a non-contributory old-age pension. However, they made little attempt to block much of the Government's labour legislation, owing in part to the pro-labour sympathies of WR Russell, leader from 1894 to 1901. The Conservatives largely refrained from the underhanded tactics of left-wing independents and supported the Government in the Bank of New Zealand crisis and the South African War. The party also remained aloof from the contentious issue of alcoholic prohibition. In frequent no-confidence votes, the Conservatives recorded unanimous opposition to the Liberal Government and spoke out against the ministerial corruption and patronage of the Seddon regime. Occasionally, the Conservatives would combine with Seddon to quash left-wing initiatives. After 1899, their morale began to break but the party remained opposed to Seddon and rejected his petty imperial schemes in the Pacific. In 1903, the party elected longtime whip WF Massey as leader. Massey would continue the party's policies, emphasizing its devotion to the freehold tenure, and would finally achieve power in 1912. The Conservatives were a viable alternative government, with members of proven ministerial competence and others who would go on to exhibit their ability in the talented Reform administrations of the twentieth century. Though the party performed poorly at the polls, it represented a significant segment of the electorate. The Conservatives had the first colony-wide extra-parliamentary organization in New Zealand's history, the National Association. The Conservatives, renamed the Reform Party in 1909, provided the basis for centre-right politics in the twentieth century.