Edward Stafford (politician)

Edward William Stafford

Sir Edward William Stafford , KCMG (born April 23, 1819 in Edinburgh , Scotland , † February 14, 1901 in London ) was the third Prime Minister of New Zealand .

He held this office three times: the first time from June 2, 1856 to July 12, 1861, the second time from October 16, 1865 to June 28, 1869, and the third time from September 10 to October 11, 1872. All together he had the fourth longest tenure of any New Zealand head of government. Contemporaries described him as pragmatic, logical and astute.

Early years and beginning of career

Stafford was born in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh to a wealthy family. He received his education at Trinity College in Dublin . In 1841 and 1842 he traveled around Australia , but then decided in 1843 to move to live with relatives in Nelson on New Zealand's South Island. Soon after his arrival, he became involved in local politics and criticized Governor Robert FitzRoy's "weak" response to the Wairau tumult . From 1850 he called for New Zealand self-government and universal suffrage .

In 1853, Stafford became Superintendent of Nelson Province . His achievements include the introduction of a compulsory, free and secular school system, which later served as a model for the nationwide school system. The residents of the province found his administration to be exemplary. When the first national parliament was elected that same year, Stafford did not stand as a candidate. He felt it was not proper to take part in national politics while he was still in office in the province. Eventually he was elected to Nelson’s MP in 1855.

First term

When the office of Prime Minister was created in 1856, Stafford turned down a candidacy. Instead, it was Henry Sewell selected. His tenure lasted only thirteen days and he was replaced by William Fox . Both Sewell and Fox had tried in vain to get Stafford to join the government. Thirteen days after Fox's government failed, Stafford was the only suitable candidate left. Eventually he agreed to become prime minister.

One of his first acts of office was the rules governing relations between the central government and the provinces. Also noteworthy was the unofficial cabinet, which met independently of the official executive council. This meant that most government affairs were handled without the governor's actually required involvement, which worsened relations between Governor Thomas Gore Browne and Parliament. There were also disputes between Stafford and the governor over the question of the distribution of power, in particular responsibility in negotiations with the Māori . Stafford, meanwhile, pursued his goal of self-government and declined any responsibility for financial decisions made by the governor that did not have parliamentary approval.

In 1857 his first wife Emily Wakefield died, whom he had married 11 years earlier. Two years later he married Mary Bartley. In 1858 and 1859 he took part in negotiations outside New Zealand. His cabinet colleagues and the governor took advantage of his absence and forced the Māori to sell land at Waitara . Stafford condemned this decision on economic and moral grounds and offered to resign. Finally he decided to stay in office. After being criticized by William Fox for his "weakness" and not supporting the invasion of Waikato , Stafford was removed from office in July 1861 with a vote of no confidence . William Fox became Prime Minister again.

When the trust was withdrawn from Fox's government in August 1862, Stafford had the option to return to prime minister, but he refused. The reason he gave the hostilities with Governor George Gray . Stafford believed that the governor would, on principle, obstruct his government work. Instead, Alfred Domett took office. Donnett's government has been described as a "Stafford government without Stafford". After a little over a year, Donnett was replaced by Frederick Whitaker . But Whitaker too stayed at the head of government for only about a year, followed by Frederick Weld . Like his two predecessors, Weld followed a policy similar to that of Stafford.

Second term

When Weld resigned in October 1865 because of ill health and stress, Stafford took over the government for the second time. He continued Weld's legislative program, but cut what he felt was excessive spending. Successful administration was rewarded with the confirmation of his government in the elections in 1866.

Stafford's relationship with the governor deteriorated noticeably. In particular, there was disagreement over the financing of military measures against the Māori . Stafford believed that the conflict was an Empire matter since it was started by British authorities. Because of this, he declined that parliament should take primary responsibility for cracking down on the “rebellious” tribes. When the British government finally relinquished responsibility for negotiating with the Māori, it demanded adequate compensation for the military operations. Stafford refused, and in turn asked for compensation for the settlers. In 1868 both sides renounced their demands.

For a period of time, Stafford's government maintained good relations with the Māori. So they were guaranteed seats in parliament in the elections of 1867 and Stafford asked the governor to pardon insurgent Māori tribal leaders. But the unexpected military successes of Te Kooti and Titokowaru meant that influential circles rejected Stafford's policy of reconciliation. Stafford wanted to call new elections to confirm his policy. But this move was prevented by Governor George Ferguson Bowen , who was an avowed opponent of Stafford. Again Stafford lost a vote of no confidence and again William Fox was his successor.

Third term and later years

In the government of William Fox, Treasury Secretary Julius Vogel gained increasing influence and pushed the actual head of government into the background. Stafford was not opposed to Vogel's ambitious plans to expand the infrastructure, but criticized him for his ruthlessness in implementing them. Fox's dwindling control of the government enabled Stafford to assume the post of Prime Minister for a third time in September 1872. Stafford's majority, however, was small; after less than a month he lost a vote of no confidence, followed by George Waterhouse .

Stafford tried to unite the opposition but failed. He worked more and more closely with Julius Vogel. When he became Prime Minister in April 1873, Stafford received an offer to work as a minister. He declined, however, because he wanted to take more time for private matters. In March 1878 he resigned as a member of parliament because he could not imagine working with his rival George Gray , who had meanwhile become Prime Minister.

After his resignation, Stafford lived in England , where he worked as a businessman. He was knighted in 1879. Stafford received offers for governor in Madras (now Chennai ) and Queensland , but declined both times. He died in London at the age of 82. He left three daughters and three sons from his second marriage to Mary Bartley, whom he married in 1859; Bartley died in 1899. His first marriage to Emily Wakefield, whom he married in 1846, remained childless, having died in 1857 at the age of 29.

Web links

• Edmund Bohan : Stafford, Edward William . In: Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture & Heritage , September 1, 2010, accessed August 24, 2012 .