# United–Reform coalition Government of New Zealand

The United–Reform coalition government of New Zealand was the ministry that governed New Zealand from 1931 to 1935. The United–Reform Coalition was between two of the three major parties of the time, the United and Reform, formed to deal with the Great Depression which began in 1929. The Labour Party refused to join the coalition government, as it believed that the only solution to the depression was socialism, which United and Reform did not support. Rather, they attempted to solve the country's economic problems by cutting public spending (austerity). This, the policy of making the unemployed do relief work for the unemployment benefit, and other cost-cutting policies, made the government the most unpopular of its era, and it was defeated in the 1935 election.

## Significant policies
### Economic

* Cut government spending in order to balance the budget.
* The Reserve Bank of New Zealand was established in 1934, beginning the first issue of banknotes for the New Zealand Pound.
* Created the Mortgage Corporation of New Zealand in 1935

### Transport

* Introduced the Transport Licensing Act 1931 to regulate land transport; goods transported further than 30 miles (48 km) would require a permit from the New Zealand Railways Department;

### Welfare

* Compelled the unemployed to labour on public works and other activities in exchange for an unemployment benefit.

### Education

* Raised school starting age to six in order to save money.
* Closed teachers' colleges as cost-cutting measure.

## Formation

The initial coalition between the United and Reform had formed earlier in 1931, following the collapse of an earlier coalition between the United and Labour. Fearing that splitting the anti-Labour vote would result in a Labour government even if it received fewer votes than United and Reform combined, the two parties formed a coalition and an election agreement. In the subsequent election, the coalition won 55.4% of the popular vote, compared to 34.3% for Labour.

## Defeat

The government focussed primarily on getting New Zealand out of the depression by cutting government spending and thus balancing the national budget. It dealt with widespread unemployment by initiating relief work, which involved compelling the unemployed to work on a range of projects ranging from useful public works to pointless activity. The government was widely seen as heartless, encapsulated by the commonly believed but probably untrue story that Prime Minister George Forbes had told a delegation of unemployed men to go and eat grass. In the 1935 election, Labour won 46.1% of the popular vote, while the coalition won only 32.9%. However the result in terms of seats was much more overwhelming, with Labour winning 53 seats to the coalition's 16. A further eleven seats were won by minor parties and independents. Following their defeats, the Liberal and Reform parties merged to become the National Party.

## Election results

| Election | Parliament | Seats | Total votes | Percentage | Gain (loss) | Seats won | Change | Majority |
| 1931 | 24th | 80 | 396,004 | 55.4% | | 51 | -3 | 11 |
| 1935 | 25th | 80 | | 32.9% | -22.5% | 16 | -35 | |

## Prime ministers

The government was led by George Forbes of the United Party, with Gordon Coates of Reform as Minister of Finance.
* Prime Ministers of the United–Reform Coalition Government
* George Forbes served 1930–1935

## Cabinet Ministers

| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Start | End |
| Prime Minister | George Forbes | United | 22 September 1931 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Agriculture | David Jones | Reform | 22 September 1931 | 8 January 1932 |
| Minister of Agriculture | Charles Macmillan | Reform | 8 January 1932 | 6 December 1935 |
| Attorney-General | William Downie Stewart | Reform | 22 September 1931 | 28 January 1933 |
| Attorney-General | George Forbes | United | 28 January 1933 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Customs | William Downie Stewart | Reform | 22 September 1931 | 28 January 1933 |
| Minister of Customs | Gordon Coates | Reform | 28 January 1933 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Defence | John Cobbe | United | 22 September 1931 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Education | Robert Masters | United | 22 September 1931 | 22 November 1934 |
| Minister of Education | Sydney Smith | United | 22 November 1934 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Finance | William Downie Stewart | Reform | 22 September 1931 | 28 January 1933 |
| Minister of Finance | Gordon Coates | Reform | 28 January 1933 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | George Forbes | United | 22 September 1931 | 6 December 1935 |
| Commissioner of State Forests | Alfred Ransom | United | 22 September 1931 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Health | Alexander Young | Reform | 22 September 1931 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Immigration | Alexander Young | Reform | 22 September 1931 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Industries and Commerce | Robert Masters | United | 22 September 1931 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Internal Affairs | Adam Hamilton | Reform | 22 September 1931 | 28 January 1933 |
| Minister of Internal Affairs | Alexander Young | Reform | 28 January 1933 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Island Territories | George Forbes | United | 22 September 1931 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Justice | John Cobbe | United | 22 September 1931 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Labour | Adam Hamilton | Reform | 22 September 1931 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Marine | John Cobbe | United | 22 September 1931 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Mines | David Jones | Reform | 22 September 1931 | 8 January 1932 |
| Minister of Mines | Charles Macmillan | Reform | 8 January 1932 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Native Affairs | Āpirana Ngata | United | 22 September 1931 | 1 November 1934 |
| Minister of Native Affairs | George Forbes | United | 1 November 1934 | 6 December 1935 |
| Postmaster-General | Adam Hamilton | Reform | 22 September 1931 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Railways | George Forbes | United | 22 September 1931 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Revenue | William Downie Stewart | Reform | 22 September 1931 | 28 January 1933 |
| Minister of Revenue | Gordon Coates | Reform | 28 January 1933 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Transport | Gordon Coates | Reform | 22 September 1931 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Works | Gordon Coates | Reform | 22 September 1931 | 10 April 1933 |
| Minister of Works | John Bitchener | Reform | 10 April 1933 | 6 December 1935 |
In 1934 the Minister of Native Affairs Sir Āpirana Ngata resigned as minister after accusations of departmental maladministration and favouritism were supported by a Royal Commission.