The Second Stafford Ministry was the eighth responsible government to be formed in New Zealand, and one of the longer-lasting ministries during this period. It formed in October 1865 and lasted until June 1869. However, it was defeated in a vote of confidence on 15 August 1866 and resigned, to be reconstituted with three ministers replaced, so some contemporaries regarded it as two separate Ministries. As the office of Premier had yet to be formally established, Edward Stafford did not carry this title officially.[1]
The previous Weld ministry collapsed due to a confidence motion brought by Julius Vogel, but Frederick Weld advised Governor Grey to call Edward Stafford instead. Grey promised Stafford to grant him a fresh general election even if the House did not express its confidence in him by granting Supply, raising the ire of the Weldites.[2] The new government had three main policies: peace with Māori, retrenchment of the public accounts, and enhancing the power of central government.[3]
Against the Ministry's proposal to reduce the funding of Provincial governments from customs receipts, the provincialist William Sefton Moorhouse moved a confidence motion which succeeded by 47 votes to 14 in August 1866, but Stafford was re-appointed and formed a coalition with the former Weldites.[4] One of these was John Richardson, who was threatened with rotten eggs next time he visited his ultra-provincialist home of Dunedin.[5] Upon the election of James Macandrew as Superintendent of Otago, Stafford caused a furore by withdrawing his power to manage the goldfields until his previous conduct had been audited.[6]
With regard to finances, the Ministry pledged to make £240,000 in budget savings, and succeeded in returning to a surplus in 1866. They also successfully put a counter-claim[7] to Britain's charges for the expense of providing Imperial regiments during the New Zealand Wars, and their focus on expenditure was described by Postmaster-General John Hall as "retrenchment frenzy".[8] In 1867 the provinces' existing loans were taken over by the central government and the local governments were forbidden from taking out any further loans.[9]
The Māori policy of the Government was of non-intervention unless provoked: Stafford followed a conciliatory line by pardoning some of the killers of Carl Volkner,[10] and attempted to involve Māori in colonial politics by creating four electoral districts in the House of Representatives for them. Later, the outbreak of two new insurgencies led by Tītokowaru and Te Kooti raised a military response. Government Agent and opposition politician Donald McLean was sacked in March 1869 for advising Major Ropata not to obey orders to reinforce the Taranaki campaign,[11] and Opposition leader Sir William Fox moved a no-confidence vote over the dismissal, which he won 40–29 on 24 June.[12]
The following members served in the Weld Ministry:[1]
| Name | Image | Office | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Stafford |  |
Member of Executive Council | 16 October 1865 – 28 June 1869 |
| Colonial Secretary | 31 October 1865 – 28 June 1869 | ||
| Colonial Treasurer | 31 October 1865 – 12 June 1866 | ||
| Postmaster-General | 31 October 1865 – 8 May 1866 | ||
| 6 February 1869 – 28 June 1869 | |||
| Theodore Haultain |  |
Member of Executive Council | 16 October 1865 – 28 June 1869 |
| Minister for Colonial Defence | 31 October 1865 – 28 June 1869 | ||
| Andrew Russell, MLC | Member of Executive Council | 16 October 1865 – 24 August 1866 | |
| Minister for Native Affairs | 31 October 1865 – 24 August 1866 | ||
| James Paterson | Member of Executive Council | 16 October 1865 – 24 August 1866 | |
| Postmaster-General | 8 May 1865 – 24 August 1866 | ||
| John Johnston, MLC |  |
Member of Executive Council | 14 May 1866 – 5 April 1867 |
| Francis Jollie |  |
Member of Executive Council | 14 May 1866 – 24 August 1866 |
| Colonial Treasurer | 12 June 1866 – 24 August 1866 | ||
| William Fitzherbert |  |
Colonial Treasurer | 24 August 1866 – 28 June 1869 |
| Commissioner of Stamp Duties | 6 May 1867 – 28 June 1869 | ||
| John Hall |  |
Member of Executive Council | 24 August 1866 – 28 June 1869 |
| Postmaster-General | 24 August 1866 – 5 February 1869 | ||
| Electric Telegraph Commissioner | 16 October 1866 – 5 February 1869 | ||
| James Crowe Richmond |  |
Commissioner of Customs | 24 August 1866 – 28 June 1869 |
| Commissioner of Stamp Duties | 6 May 1867 – 28 June 1869 | ||
| John Richardson |  |
Member of Executive Council | 24 August 1866 – 23 June 1868 |
| John Hyde Harris, MLC |  |
Member of Executive Council | 9 September 1867 – 13 May 1868 |
| Solicitor-General | 26 October 1867 – 13 May 1868 | ||
| Daniel Pollen, MLC |  |
Member of Executive Council | 10 June 1869 – 28 June 1869 |
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|---|---|
| Executives without power |
|
| Responsible government |
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| Governments along party lines |
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