NZHistory, New Zealand history online - richard seddon

Federated Australia elephant

Around 1900 political federations, in various guises, were popular issues. This cartoon shows Premier Richard Seddon riding a toy hobby horse labelled ‘South Pacific Federation’, while premiers of Australian states try to persuade him to take the vacant seat alongside them atop the white elephant of ‘Federated Australia’.

New Zealand had participated in Australian colonial conferences since the 1860s. But when federation became a serious prospect in the 1890s, New Zealand took no part in the negotiations and there was little public interest. However, the 1899 decision to federate the Australian colonies sparked off some agitation across the Tasman in favour of joining Australia, and the conservative opposition advocated a referendum on the issue.

As this cartoon shows, Premier Richard Seddon saw himself heading a South Pacific empire, not a subordinate administration. He set up a Royal Commission in 1900 to buy time and get a sense of public opinion. While most submissions opposed union with Australia, many farmers were in favour, fearing trade barriers to their produce if New Zealand stayed outside the new federation.

The prevailing view was that New Zealanders – both Pākehā and Māori – were of superior stock to their trans-Tasman counterparts. Nascent nationalism was also fostered by participation in the South African (Boer) War. And the 1200 miles of often-stormy sea separating the two countries were held up as 1200 arguments against federation.

NZ says no to federation with Australia

A 10-man Royal Commission reported unanimously that New Zealand should not become a state of the new Commonwealth of Australia. Nor did it think that a trade treaty between the two countries was a realistic prospect. Although a New Zealand Australia Free Trade Agreement was eventually signed in 1965, political union is no closer today than it was in 1901.

By the time the Royal Commission reported, the Commonwealth had existed for five months. Its constitution made provision for New Zealand to join the five founding states – on terms to be negotiated.

New Zealand had participated in Australian colonial conferences since the 1860s. But when federation became a serious prospect in the 1890s, New Zealand took no part in the negotiations and there was little public interest. However, the 1899 decision to federate sparked off agitation in favour of joining Australia, and the conservative opposition advocated a referendum on the issue.

Premier Richard Seddon saw himself heading a South Pacific empire, not a subordinate administration. He set up the Royal Commission in 1900 to buy time and get a sense of public opinion. While most submissions opposed union with Australia, many farmers were in favour, fearing trade barriers to their produce.

The prevailing view was that New Zealanders – both Pākehā and Māori – were of superior stock to their counterparts across the Tasman. New Zealand’s trade was mostly with the United Kingdom; Australians were economic rivals rather than partners. Nascent nationalism was also fostered by participation in the South African (Boer) War. And the 1200 miles of stormy sea separating the two countries represented 1200 arguments against federation.

Image: New Zealand Federation Royal Commission (National Library)

Seddon and Ward, premier towns - roadside stories

The Marlborough towns of Seddon and Ward are named after New Zealand premiers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries – and are built on land made available by the Liberal government’s policy of subdividing large estates. ‘King Dick’ Seddon a popular and charismatic figure, died in office and was succeeded by businessman Joseph Ward.

Transcript

Narrator: The small Marlborough town of Seddon, sitting on the banks of the Awatere River, is named after one of New Zealand’s most famous and popular politicians – Richard John Seddon. The nearby town of Ward is named after Sir Joseph Ward, who succeeded Seddon.

When the Liberals came to power in 1890, they argued that the large pastoral estates in New Zealand were creating a wealthy elite. This excluded the ordinary working man from making a living out of farming. So the Liberals decided to break up the large holdings by introducing a graduated land tax. They also compulsorily purchased over 200 large estates. Seddon and Ward were both Cabinet members who presided over this policy.

The town of Seddon was created in 1899 when the 14,000-ha Starborough estate was broken [up]. Ward was created six years later when the 23,000-ha Flaxbourne estate, containing over 70,000 sheep, was subdivided.

The Liberals’ policy was not always opposed by the large landholders as the sheep economy was changing. Originally the huge holdings had grown sheep purely for wool. But by the 1890s refrigerated shipping allowed the production of sheep for meat as well as wool. This allowed new breeds of sheep and much larger stock numbers. Breaking up the estates suited the new meat economy.

Richard John Seddon was the first ‘ordinary bloke’ politician. He was not well educated, and dropped his ‘aitches’. He had worked as a gold miner and publican on the rough West Coast of New Zealand. Seddon was a great orator, and ordinary New Zealanders easily related to him. Nevertheless, ‘King Dick’, as he was nicknamed, was autocratic, and used his power to get jobs for his mates. He regularly held up to half a dozen ministerial positions, as well as being Premier.

Seddon was a huge man – 6 feet tall, and over 20 stone in weight. His large pot belly was often hidden by a trademark frock coat. As a member, then leader, of the reformist Liberal government of the 1890s, Seddon’s achievements were considerable. As well as breaking up large rural estates, his government introduced an industrial arbitration system, votes for women – although Seddon personally did not embrace this measure – and pensions for the elderly.

Charismatic and shrewd, Seddon was the first New Zealand politician to exploit the game of rugby. The results of games played by the 1905 All Blacks were announced through his office, and he rewarded the triumphant team with a holiday tour of Canada and the United States while returning home. Then, as the self-appointed ‘Minister of Football’, he was the first to greet them when they finally arrived.

Seddon died suddenly the following year, en route from Australia. He had just cabled the Victorian state premier that he was about to return to ‘God’s own country’. This is reputedly the origin of the popular term for New Zealand as ‘godzone’.

Seddon’s successor, Sir Joseph Ward, was a businessman from Southland who lacked his predecessor’s charisma but continued his popular policies. Ward was born in Australia, became a merchant in Bluff and was responsible for starting the Ocean Beach freezing works there. When serving as colonial treasurer he became bankrupt, but managed to restore his wealth and reputation. He rejoined Cabinet, introduced the penny postage stamp, and followed Seddon as premier.

Ward served again as prime minister, aged in his 70s, from 1928 to 1930, which was the year he died. Ward’s political success came despite the fact that he was a Catholic and was the target of some anti-Catholic feeling.

Manatū Taonga - Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 2011. Part of the Roadside Stories series

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Richard Seddon with Tenth Contingent soldiers

New Zealand Premier Richard Seddon with soldiers of the Tenth Contingent on board the SS Drayton Grange, April 1902.

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/2-029354-F
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image

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Robert Stout painting

Watercolour of Premier Robert Stout, entitled 'The only Liberal', by Vyvyan Hunt, circa 1900.

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: a-122-007
Artist: Vyvyan Hunt (1854-1929)
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Richard Seddon and his cabinet, 1906

Colonial Cabinets were small. This is Richard Seddon’s (1893-1906), from left to right: Charles Mills, Thomas Duncan, James McGowan, Sir Joseph Ward, Richard John Seddon, William Hall-Jones, Albert Pitt, Sir James Carroll and Mahuta Te Wherowhero.

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/2-020806-F
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

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Richard Seddon

A portrait of Richard Seddon, who was Premier of New Zealand from 1893 to 1906.

Read Richard Seddon biography

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/2-005255-F
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

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Richard Seddon in the Cook Islands

The King and Queen of Rarotonga, with Mrs Seddon and New Zealand Premier Richard John Seddon, in the palace grounds, Rarotonga, during Seddon's visit to the Pacific Islands in 1900.

In 1901 Britain allowed New Zealand to annex the Cook Islands and Niue.

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PAColl-7599-1
Photographer: Frederick Sears.
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Opening of Seddonville State Mine

Premier Richard Seddon poses in the middle of a group including many of the residents of Seddonville when he came to open the new Seddonville State Mine in late 1903.

Credit:

Private collection, Len Richardson

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Premier Seddon promotes state mining

Extract from report of Premier Richard Seddon speaking at Seddonville on 21 February 1902.

Transcript (of full report)

THE PREMIER AT WESTPORT.

Speaking at Seddonville to-day on the question of the State Mine, the Premier said that it required a strong mine to succeed where private enterprise had failed. A large amount of money had been sunk and lost in the Cardiff mine, but he was sanguine as to its future. Although he had not seen the recent report by commissioners, he had been informed by the Minister of Mines that it was generally favorable. If that was the case he (Mr Seddon) was quite willing to expend certain monies to connect the Cave area with the binns and other plant, so that a start could be made and a fair trial given. As to exactly how soon a start could be made, that could only be settled after he consulted his colleagues, and. with that end in view he would bring the matter before the cabinet immediately on his return to Wellington. As far as himself was concerned he hoped to get the tramway started and the mine developed. He wished it to be clearly understood the state would not treat the miners differently from private employers and impressed it upon the miners present that they should demonstrate to the country by honest work that the state could work the mines as profitably as private people. He had no anxiety as to the results. The Premier made it quite clear that he was not going to bave what was commonly called "Government stroke" by members of the opposition during the debate on the state Mines Bill. He believed in fair day's wage for fair day's work. A manager would be appointed having full and complete control and placed above all political influence.

At the social the Premier said he saw there was to be a dearth of coal during the coming winter and private companies had been increasing prices. In respect to Government contracts, he intended to make it clear that he would wrest this down. The Government would fix the maximum price and private enterprise should be satisfied with a fair profit and not try for exorbitant profits as in the case of one or two companies on the coast. He was convinced that the State Coal mine would start under favorable auspices. Referring to the Press assertions that he had changed his mind in regard to the advisability of starting a State Coal mine, he said that as far back as 1891 he advocated the formation of a State Coal mine, but private enterprise was too much for him. Now he would be happy to state that he was square with them. Government had no desire to go in for sweating, but would fix the price of coal, hewing, etc. In connection with different works he approached the case with the utmost confidence. Referring to the old time remark as to the advanced socialistic tendency of the administration of which he was the head, he said he was glad to find the past distrust of him almost disappeared in the colony.

Mr and Mrs Seddon, accompanied by representative citizens and ladies, visited the Westport Harbor Board quarries. The Ministerial party leaves at midnight for Wellington.

Credit:

Grey River Argus, 24 February p4 (on PapersPast)

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