1884–1887 Stout–Vogel Ministry

The Stout–Vogel Ministry was the second responsible government to be formed in New Zealand. It formed in September 1884 and governed until October 1887. From the outset, Robert Stout served as Prime Minister as well as Attorney-General whilst Julius Vogel held the post of Minister of Finance. Initially, the ministry had lasted only two weeks, with Harry Atkinson managing to pass a vote of no confidence against Stout. However, Atkinson failed to establish his own government, and was supplanted by Stout and Vogel who remained in power for the next three years.

Vogel had the larger following in the coalition, but his poor health caused him to yield the premiership to Stout. Regardless, many observers still saw Vogel as the more dominant partner in the alliance. Both men were highly active in building consensus between the growing labour movement and middle-class liberalism. Both leaders were likeminded on social policy, however frequently clashed over financial policy.^[1]

At the time the ministry was formed, New Zealand was in a prolonged economic recession. As Treasurer, Vogel did what he could to promote recovery, including borrowing, though with little success. The initially hopeful populace lost faith that the government could restore economic prosperity, viewing that retrenchment was the only solution, not expansionism. Atkinson passed another motion of no confidence against the government on 28 May 1887. Stout was granted a dissolution, but the subsequent election went against the Ministry and Stout himself suffered the indignity of losing his own seat.^[2]

The following members served in the reconstructed Stout–Vogel Ministry:^[3]

Name	Image	Office	Term
Sir Robert Stout		Prime Minister	3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
		Attorney-General	3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
		Minister of Education	8 January 1885 – 8 October 1887
Sir Julius Vogel		Minister of Finance	3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
		Postmaster-General	3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
		Commissioner of Trade and Customs	3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
		Commissioner of Telegraphs	3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
		Commissioner of Stamp Duties	3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Edward Richardson, MLC		Minister of Public Works	3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
John Ballance		Minister of Native Affairs	3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
		Minister of Defence	3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
		Minister of Lands	3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
		Minister of Immigration	3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Joseph Tole		Minister of Justice	3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
Patrick Buckley, MLC		Colonial Secretary	3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887
William Reynolds		Member of Executive Council	3 September 1884 – 3 January 1885
			3 June 1886 – 8 October 1887
William Larnach		Minister of Mines	5 January 1885 – 8 October 1887
		Minister of Marine	5 January 1885 – 8 October 1887

• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.

• List of New Zealand governments