Edward Stafford (politician)

Edward William Stafford (1819 - 1901) served as Premier of New Zealand on three occasions in the mid 19th century. His total time in office is the fourth longest of any New Zealand Premier or Prime Minister. He is described as pragmatic, logical, and clear-sighted.

Stafford was born on 23 April 1819 in Edinburgh, Scotland. His family was prosperous, enabling him to receive a good education at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1841 and 1842, he undertook travel in Australia, but chose to join relatives in Nelson, New Zealand, in 1843. He soon became active in Nelson politics, criticising Governor Robert FitzRoy's "weak" response to the so-called Wairau Massacre. In 1850, he joined increasing calls for New Zealand's self-government, adding his own demand for universal suffrage.

In 1853, Stafford became the first Superintendent of Nelson Province. Among his achievements was the establishment of an education system (compulsory, free, and secular) which was later used as the basis of the national system. His administration of Nelson Province was well regarded, and many predicted that he would "go far" in politics.

When the national parliament was opened, however, Stafford did not seek election, claiming that it was inappropriate to enter national politics while still holding provincial office. Despite requests from politicians such as Henry Sewell, Stafford declined to stand for parliament until the election of 1855, when he was elected MP for Nelson.

When the position of Premier was created in 1956, Stafford refused to compete for the office. Instead, it was taken by Sewell. Sewell's term, however, lasted only thirteen days, after which he was replaced by William Fox. Stafford refused offers of a ministerial position from both leaders. When Fox's government fell, having lasted the exact same number of days as Sewell's, Stafford was deemed the only suitable candidate remaining, and agreed to become Premier.

Among Stafford's first acts as Premier were measures to define the relationship between central and provincial government. Also notable was the unofficial establishment of Cabinet, which met independently of the official Executive Council. This meant that much government business was conducted without the presence of the Governor, straining relations between Governor Thomas Gore Browne and parliament. Stafford also clashed with the Governor on the subject of the distribution of powers, particularly responsibility for dealings with Maori. Thomas Gore Browne, disdainful of the chaotic nature of the Sewell and Fox premierships, did not believe that parliament should have control over such an important matter, while Stafford pursued his old goal of democratic self-government. Stafford, on behalf of the new government, refused all responsibility for financing actions undertaken by the governor without parliament's approval.

In 1858 and 1859, Stafford was out of New Zealand, attempting to negotiate on the country's behalf for various services. His trip proved problematic, however - during his absence, his colleagues and the governor agreed to force Maori into selling land at Waitara, despite Stafford's strong objections. Stafford condemned the decision on grounds of both economics and morality, and considered resignation. Eventually, he chose to continue his premiership, but Stafford's views on relations with the Maori were eventually to cause his departure regardless - attacks by William Fox on Stafford's "weakness", and Stafford's lack of support for the Invasion of the Waikato, caused him to lose parliament's confidence by a single vote in July 1861. William Fox became Premier once again.

When Fox's government fell one year later, Stafford had the opportunity to become Premier again, but declined. His stated reason for doing so was his hostility to Governor George Grey, who Stafford believed he would be unable to override on policy matters - Stafford did not wish to become Premier if the Governor would simply block his policies. Instead, Alfred Domett took the premiership. Domett's premiership has been described as "like a Stafford ministry without Stafford". Domett was replaced by Frederick Whitaker after little more than a year, but Whitaker himself only lasted a similar time before being replaced by Frederick Weld. Weld, like Domett, followed policies similar to Stafford, although did not enjoy good personal relations with him.

On 16 October 1865, when Weld retired due to ill health and stress, Stafford took up the premiership once again. As Premier, he continued Weld's legislative program, but reduced what he saw as Weld's excessive expenditure (this having been one of the issues that caused the dislike between the two men). His administration was marked by efficiency and frugality. He was rewarded by the public in the 1866 elections.

Stafford's relations with the Governor, however, were gradually deteriorating. In particular, there was considerable debate over responsibility for financing military activity against Maori. Stafford took the view that the conflict was essentially an "imperial" one, started and promoted by the British authorities. As such, he objected to the British view that the colonial parliament should have primary responsibility for crushing the "rebel" tribes, and ignored the Governor's complaints about drastically reduced military expenditure. When the British government finally surrendered responsibility for dealing with the Maori, it demanded Stafford give substantial compensation for the costs of its military ventures. Stafford refused, and presented his own counter-claim for settler losses. In 1868, an agreement was reached where both sides would drop their claims.

Stafford's government maintained generally good relations with Maori for some time. This exemplified by the establishment of Maori seats in parliament in 1867, and by Stafford's request for the governor to pardon "rebel" Maori chiefs. However, the sudden military successes of Te Kooti and Titokowaru caused many to claim that Stafford's attempts at reconciliation had been misjudged. Stafford sought to call an election and gain a fresh mandate, but his move was blocked by Governor George Ferguson Bowen, who had a strong dislike of Stafford. Stafford's government was defeated in 1869. His replacement was, once again, William Fox.

Fox's government became increasingly dominated by it's financial leader, Julius Vogel, and Stafford began to focus on him rather than on Fox. Stafford did not greatly disapprove of Vogel's extensive public works plans, but complained that Vogel was reckless in their implementation. Fox's diminishing control over his administration eventually allowed Stafford to reclaim the premiership in 1872. Stafford's majority was small, however, and he was soon defeated in a vote of no confidence. With Bowen again refusing permission for an election, Stafford had no option but to resign. He was replaced by George Waterhouse.

Stafford briefly attempted to unify the opposition, but found too many disparate personalities. Increasingly, Stafford began to work with Julius Vogel - despite Stafford's criticism of Vogel's financial policies, and Vogel's role in ending Stafford's last premiership, the two shared many similar views. When Vogel became Premier, Stafford was offered a ministerial position, but declined on the grounds that he needed to attend to personal affairs. Later, when Vogel was seeking to retire, Stafford again had a chance to return to government, but again declined. Stafford retired in 1878, strongly disliking the new premiership of former governor George Grey.

Stafford spent considerable time in England, devoting himself to business pursuits. He was granted a KCMG on his arrival, and was also offered governorships of Madras and Queensland (which he declined). He eventually died in London on 14 February 1901. Stafford was survived by three daughters and three sons, the product of his marriage to Mary Bartley in 1859. Mary had died in 1899. A prior marriage to Emily Charlotte, daughter of William Wakefield, had been childless, with Emily having died in 1857 at the age of twenty-nine.

External link

• Prime Minister's Office biography