5th New Zealand Parliament
Encyclopedia
The 5th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament
of New Zealand
.
Elections for this term were held in 68 European electorates between 14 January and 23 February 1871. Elections in the four Māori electorates were held on 1 and 15 January 1871. A total of 78 MPs were elected. Parliament was prorogued in December 1875. During the term of this Parliament, six Ministries were in power.
. Anyone attempting to form an administration thus had to win support directly from individual MPs. This made first forming, and then retaining a government difficult and challenging.
William Fox
. On 10 September 1872, the third Stafford Ministry was formed, which lasted 13 months. This was followed by the Waterhouse Ministry, from 11 October 1872 to 3 March 1873. The fourth Fox Ministry was short lived, from 3 March 1873 to 8 April 1873. The first Vogel Ministry was in power from 8 April 1873 to 6 July 1875. It was succeeded by the Pollen Ministry, which lasted into the term of the 6th Parliament
.
This compares to 61 electorates used in the previous general election in 1866
, and 65 electorates after the Māori electorates were created in 1867.
Akaroa
Robert Heaton Rhodes
resigned on 18 February 1874. William Montgomery
won the subsequent 24 April 1874 by-election. In July 1874, a select committee declared Montgomery's election to be "null and void", as he had a contract for the supply of railway sleepers
with the general government in breach of election rules. The select committee accepted that the breach was inadvertent. Montgomery stood for re-election in a 10 August 1874 by-election and was returned unopposed.
Caversham
Richard Cantrell
resigned on 31 July 1872. He was succeeded by William Tolmie
in a 28 August 1872 by-election, and he served until his death on 8 August 1875. Robert Stout
, a later Prime Minister, first entered Parliament through the resulting 20 August 1875 by-election.
Coleridge
John Karslake Karslake
resigned on 12 April 1872 to return to England (he drowned on the voyage home on 21 June 1872). William Bluett
succeeded him through the 22 July 1872 by-election.
Collingwood
Arthur Collins
resigned on 8 October 1873. The resulting 9 December 1873 by-election was won by William Gibbs
.
City of Dunedin
Bathgate resigned in 1874 and was succeeded by Nathaniel Wales
.
City of Nelson
Lightband resigned in 1872 to return to England. He was succeeded by David Luckie
.
Egmont
Gisborne resigned in 1872 and was succeeded by Harry Atkinson
.
Franklin
Clark resigned in 1874 and was succeeded by Joseph May
.
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Elections for this term were held in 68 European electorates between 14 January and 23 February 1871. Elections in the four Māori electorates were held on 1 and 15 January 1871. A total of 78 MPs were elected. Parliament was prorogued in December 1875. During the term of this Parliament, six Ministries were in power.
Sessions
The 5th Parliament opened on 14 August 1871, following the 1871 general election. It sat for five sessions, and was prorogued on 6 December 1875.| Session | Opened | Adjouned |
|---|---|---|
| first | 14 August 1871 | 16 November 1871 |
| second | 16 July 1872 | 25 October 1872 |
| third | 15 July 1873 | 3 October 1873 |
| fourth | 3 July 1874 | 31 August 1874 |
| fifth | 20 July 1875 | 21 October 1875 |
Historical context
Political parties had not been established yet; this only happened after the 1890 electionNew Zealand general election, 1890
The New Zealand general election of 1890 was one of New Zealand's most significant. It marked the beginning of party politics in New Zealand with the formation of the First Liberal government, which was to enact major welfare, labour and electoral reforms, including giving the vote to women.It was...
. Anyone attempting to form an administration thus had to win support directly from individual MPs. This made first forming, and then retaining a government difficult and challenging.
Ministries
Since June 1869, the third Fox Ministry was in power, led by PremierPrime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
William Fox
William Fox (New Zealand)
Sir William Fox, KCMG was the second Premier of New Zealand on four occasions in the 19th century, while New Zealand was still a colony. He was known for his eventual support of Māori land rights, his contributions to the education system , and his work to increase New Zealand's autonomy from...
. On 10 September 1872, the third Stafford Ministry was formed, which lasted 13 months. This was followed by the Waterhouse Ministry, from 11 October 1872 to 3 March 1873. The fourth Fox Ministry was short lived, from 3 March 1873 to 8 April 1873. The first Vogel Ministry was in power from 8 April 1873 to 6 July 1875. It was succeeded by the Pollen Ministry, which lasted into the term of the 6th Parliament
6th New Zealand Parliament
The 6th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand.Elections for this term were held in 69 European electorates between 20 December 1875 and 29 January 1876. Elections in the four Māori electorates were held on 4 and 15 January 1876. A total of 88 MPs were elected....
.
Initial composition of the 5th Parliament
78 seats were created across the electorates. 68 European electorates and 4 Māori electorates were defined by the Representation Act 1870. Six of the general electorates had two representatives, the rest were single member electorates. Hence, 78 MPs were elected.This compares to 61 electorates used in the previous general election in 1866
New Zealand general election, 1866
The New Zealand general election of 1866 was held between 12 February and 6 April to elect 70 MPs to the fourth term of the New Zealand Parliament. 13,196 votes were cast....
, and 65 electorates after the Māori electorates were created in 1867.
Changes during term
There were numerous changes during the term of the 5th Parliament.Akaroa
Robert Heaton Rhodes
Robert Heaton Rhodes
Robert Heaton Rhodes was a New Zealand politician, who represented the Akaroa electorate from 1871 to 1874, when he resigned. He was elected unopposed in 1871....
resigned on 18 February 1874. William Montgomery
William Montgomery (New Zealand)
The Hon. William John Alexander Montgomery was a New Zealand politician from Little River on Banks Peninsula, and a merchant. Born in London, he lived in a number of places and pursued a number of occupations before settling in Christchurch, New Zealand.-Early life:Montgomery was from an old...
won the subsequent 24 April 1874 by-election. In July 1874, a select committee declared Montgomery's election to be "null and void", as he had a contract for the supply of railway sleepers
Railroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
with the general government in breach of election rules. The select committee accepted that the breach was inadvertent. Montgomery stood for re-election in a 10 August 1874 by-election and was returned unopposed.
Caversham
Richard Cantrell
Richard Cantrell
Richard Seaward Cantrell was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Dunedin, New Zealand.He represented the Caversham electorate from 1871 to 1872, when he resigned.-References:...
resigned on 31 July 1872. He was succeeded by William Tolmie
William Tolmie
William Alexander Tolmie was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Dunedin, New Zealand.He was born in Scotland, and represented the Caversham electorate from 1872 to 1875, when he died.-References:...
in a 28 August 1872 by-election, and he served until his death on 8 August 1875. Robert Stout
Robert Stout
Sir Robert Stout, KCMG was the 13th Premier of New Zealand on two occasions in the late 19th century, and later Chief Justice of New Zealand. He was the only person to hold both these offices...
, a later Prime Minister, first entered Parliament through the resulting 20 August 1875 by-election.
Coleridge
John Karslake Karslake
John Karslake Karslake
John Karslake Karslake was a 19th century Member of Parliament in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.-Private life:Karslake arrived in Lyttelton on the Gananoque on 9 May 1860. The ship had sailed from London. In 1861, Karslake was living in the Cheviot district.In about 1863, Karslake and...
resigned on 12 April 1872 to return to England (he drowned on the voyage home on 21 June 1872). William Bluett
William Bluett
William James Geffrard Bluett was a 19th century Member of Parliament in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.He represented the Coleridge electorate from 1872 to 1875, when he was defeated.-References:...
succeeded him through the 22 July 1872 by-election.
Collingwood
Arthur Collins
Arthur Collins (politician)
Arthur Shuckburg Collins was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Nelson, New Zealand.He represented the Collingwood electorate from 1868 to 1873, when he resigned, and then the Suburbs of Nelson electorate in 1881 from 11 January to 8 November, when he retired.-References:...
resigned on 8 October 1873. The resulting 9 December 1873 by-election was won by William Gibbs
William Gibbs (New Zealand politician)
William Gibbs was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the Nelson Region of New Zealand.He represented the Collingwood electorate from 1873 to 1881, when he was defeated for Motueka....
.
City of Dunedin
Bathgate resigned in 1874 and was succeeded by Nathaniel Wales
Nathaniel Young Armstrong Wales
Nathaniel Young Armstrong Wales was a 19th century Member of Parliament and Mayor in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.Wales was born in Northumberland, England. He trained as an architect in Jedburgh, Scotland...
.
City of Nelson
Lightband resigned in 1872 to return to England. He was succeeded by David Luckie
David Luckie
David Mitchell Luckie was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Nelson, New Zealand.- Background :Luckie was born in Montrose, Forfarshire, Scotland, on 5 October 1827. He was the son of Thomas Luckie, a merchant, and Mary Mitchell. Educated in Montrose he first worked in a mercantile office,...
.
Egmont
Gisborne resigned in 1872 and was succeeded by Harry Atkinson
Harry Atkinson
Henry Albert "Harry" Atkinson served as the tenth Premier of New Zealand on four separate occasions in the late 19th century, and was Colonial Treasurer for a total of ten years...
.
Franklin
Clark resigned in 1874 and was succeeded by Joseph May
Joseph May (politician)
Joseph May was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the Auckland Region in New Zealand.He represented the Franklin electorate from 9 April 1874 to 6 December 1875, when he was defeated.-References:...
.