Events In History
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17 July 1939Death of Paddy the WandererPaddy, a ginger and brown Airedale terrier, became a national celebrity because of his exploits on the Wellington waterfront (and beyond) during the 1930s. He was remembered as providing a 'little light in the dark days of the Depression'. Read more...
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14 April 1932Unemployed riots rock Queen StHundreds of unemployed people rioted in Auckland's Queen St for more than two hours. Trouble began after several hundred public servants marched to the Town Hall to protest against proposed wage cuts. Read more...
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9 April 1932Unemployed disturbances in DunedinDuring the 'angry autumn' of 1932, in the depths of the Great Depression, unemployed workers in Dunedin reacted angrily when the Hospital Board refused to assist them. Read more...
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22 September 1931Coalition formed to combat DepressionUnited Party Prime Minister George Forbes had convened an inter-party conference with the goal of forming a coalition government that would 'share the responsibility' of dealing with the Depression. Read more...
Articles
The New Zealand Legion
The year 1933 witnessed an unprecedented eruption of protest amongst urban businessmen and professionals in New Zealand. The most prominent manifestation of this protest was a radical conservative movement named the New Zealand Legion.
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Page 2 – Origins
The Wall Street Crash of October 1929 is generally recognised as the event that triggered the Great Depression. In New Zealand, the effects of the crash were not immediately
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Page 3 – The desire to 'do something'
The New Zealand Legion was much more than a conservative protest against the coalition government. It was the focal point for a wide range of individuals, overwhelmingly from
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Page 4 – Organisation and membership
For the first few months after its February 1933 formation, the New Zealand Legion’s efforts were devoted to organisation and recruitment.
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Page 6 – Internal conflicts
Because the New Zealand Legion was such a catch-all movement for various ideas and grievances, it was inevitable that its inherent contradictions would surface.
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Page 7 – Decline
Internal divisions and resignations over policy had considerably sapped the New Zealand Legion’s strength by the beginning of 1934.
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Page 8 – Further information
Links and further reading suggestions relating to the New Zealand Legion, 1933-35
Biographies
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Savage, Michael Joseph
Michael Joseph Savage, New Zealand’s first Labour PM, was probably also it's best-loved. His avuncular image hung in the homes of the Labour faithful for decades.
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Holland, Henry Edmund
Harry Holland was an Australian-born radical who led the Labour Party from 1919 until his death in 1933. Holland's socialism was described as 'emotional, not intellectual'. He believed socialism would overcome society's problems.
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Lee, Alfred Alexander
A charismatic ex-soldier, orator and propagandist, John A. Lee was a dynamic figure in the Labour Party from the 1920s until 1940, when he was expelled for attacking the leadership of M.J. Savage.
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Forbes, George William
George William Forbes term as prime minister (1930-1935) coincided with the harsh economic and social climate of the 1930s Great Depression.
Read more...
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Main image: NZ under control of Tooley Street cartoon
Cartoon shows the influnce of British financiers on New Zealand's ability to get out of the Depression.
