1876–1877 Atkinson Ministry
Vogel had already sounded out John Davies Ormond, Edward Stafford and William Fitzherbert.[3] Within a fortnight of the installation of the new ministry (which kept on several figures from the previous administrations), it was forced to resign as the Budget only provided for seven Ministers plus a Premier, and Atkinson had appointed eight.[4] The Ministry therefore reversed the previous policy and cut back on public works spending except for main trunk lines, which had the impact of losing the votes of land speculators and backblocks Members.[6] One of the alienated Members of the House of Representatives was William Larnach, who in October 1877 submitted a motion of no confidence based on the Ministry's paralysis.It has been argued that he was in fact motivated by a desire for a Government which would promote his speculative Waimea Plains Land Company.
responsible governmentsContinuous MinistryHarry AtkinsonJohn HallJulius VogelAgent-GeneralJohn Davies OrmondEdward StaffordWilliam FitzherbertWilliam LarnachWaimea Plains Land CompanySir George GreyPremierColonial TreasurerSecretary of Crown LandsMinister for ImmigrationDaniel PollenColonial SecretaryNative MinisterFrederick WhitakerAttorney-GeneralPostmaster-GeneralSir Donald McLeanEdward RichardsonMinister for Public WorksCharles BowenMinister of JusticeGeorge McLeanCommissioner of CustomsHori TawhitiDonald ReidNew Zealand GovernmentGovernments of New ZealandFitzgeraldForsaithSewellFox (first)Stafford (first)Fox (second)DomettWhitaker–FoxStafford (second)Fox (third)Stafford (third)WaterhouseFox (fourth)Vogel (first)PollenVogel (second)WhitakerAtkinson (third)Stout–Vogel (first)Atkinson (fourth)Stout–Vogel (second)Atkinson (fifth)LiberalReformUnitedUnited–Reform coalitionFirst LabourFirst NationalSecond LabourSecond NationalThird LabourThird NationalFourth LabourFourth NationalFifth LabourFifth NationalSixth LabourFirst termSecond termSixth National