# Reform Government of New Zealand

The Reform Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1912 to 1928, led by the conservative Reform Party.
It is probably best remembered for its anti-trade union stance in the Waihi miners' strike of 1912 and a dockworkers' strike the following year. It governed during World War I, during which a temporary coalition was formed with the Liberal Party.

## Significant policies
### Industrial

* Sided with employers in the 1912 Waihi miners' strike and the waterfront workers' strike of 1913. In the latter strike, civilians enrolled as 'special constables' became known as 'Massey's Cossacks'.
* The Board of Trade Act (1919) gave government the power to regulate industries "in the interests of economic welfare".

### Public service

* The Public Service Act (1912) put a commissioner at the head of the public service and replaced political patronage over appointments and inconsistency between departments with ‘scientific management’

### Health

* Compulsory medical inspection of schoolchildren was introduced (1912).
* A minimum drinking age of 21 was introduced (1914).
* A Board of Health was set up (1920).

### Welfare

* A juvenile probation scheme was established (1913).
* Widow's pensions were extended to the wives of mental hospital patients (1912).
* From 1914 onwards, a dependent child's exemption for income tax purposes was provided.
* The Miners Phthisis Act (1915) introduced pensions for completely incapacitated victims of pneumoconiosis.
* Pensions were introduced for miners' widows (1915).
* The War Pensions Act of 1915 introduced war widows pensions, which were paid without a means test from 1916 onwards.
* The Housing Act (1919) specified sums of government money "that local authorities could borrow to erect workers' dwellings".
* The war pensions system was extended (1919).
* Women were made eligible for Parliament (1919).
* Pensions for the blind were introduced (1924).
* Family allowances were introduced for the second child onwards (1926).
* Legislation was introduced (1922) which increasingly placed farm products under the control of boards.
* Children's Courts were established (1925).
* Borstal institutions were established (1924).
* The Child Welfare Act 1925 introduced compulsory inquiries into the living circumstances of all children born outside marriage.

### Education

* The Education Act (1914) made it compulsory for public secondary schools to take free-place pupils.
* The school-leaving age was raised to 14 (1914).

### Foreign affairs and military

* Brought New Zealand into World War I with Britain and the Allies, see Military history of New Zealand in World War I.
* Introduced conscription in 1916, following registration of male residents between 17 and 60 under the National Registration Act, 1915.

## Formation

From the start of representative government in New Zealand, in the mid nineteenth century, until the 1890s, New Zealand governments were not formed on a party basis but were rather loose and shifting groups of individuals. In the 1880s and 1890s a group of politicians formed themselves into New Zealand's first true political party, the Liberals, which became the Liberal government in 1890. It remained in power for more than two decades, testimony not only to its popular policies and dynamic leadership but also to its organisation and party structure.
The opposition was initially disorganised and fractured. John Bryce was briefly recognised as Leader of the Opposition in 1891, then William Rolleston from 1891 to 1893 and William Russell from 1894 to 1901. William Massey held the position from 1903, and by 1909 the opposition had coalesced into a new party known as the Reform Party under Massey's leadership.
Although the 1911 election saw Reform win 37 seats to the Liberal Party's 33, the balance of power was held by several independent Members of Parliament, who supported the Liberals. Over the next few months, however, enough switched sides for the Liberal government to lose a confidence vote, thus bringing Reform to power in July 1912.

## 1914 election and wartime coalition

Following the 1914 election, Reform held only 40 seats in the 80 seat parliament. By this time only one independent MP remained, the left-wing John Payne. Neither he nor the two small workers' parties (United Labour and Social Democrats) in parliament were likely to ally with the right-wing Reform Party.
However, the outbreak of World War I earlier in the year had created a need for national unity, and a hitherto unlikely coalition was formed between Reform and the party Reform had been set up to defeat, the Liberals. Massey retained his position as Prime Minister, with Liberal leader Joseph Ward becoming unofficial co-leader. Payne also supported the war, but both United Labour and the Social Democrats were against it, especially conscription. In 1916 they combined to form the New Zealand Labour Party, which became the official opposition. Several Labour MPs were jailed for their anti-conscription activities or for refusing military service.

## 1919 election

The coalition became increasingly difficult to manage, due partly to a personality clash between Massey and Ward. Following the end of the war in November 1918, the coalition dissolved, the two parties fought the subsequent election separately. Reform won an additional six seats, gaining a working majority at last.

## 1922 election

Economic problems had reduced the government's popularity, and the election left Reform with only 37 seats - four short of a majority. Massey was forced to cobble together a coalition of Reform, independents, and two Liberal MPs who were later rewarded with seats in the Legislative Council. The Labour Party was gaining considerable support, causing Massey to worry that it would soon supersede the Liberals.

## 1925 election

Labour continued to grow in popularity, and in the 1925 election gained more seats than the Liberals. The two parties were competing for many of the same voters, and for the anti-government vote in particular, and this worked to Reform's benefit. Although the party gained an additional 18 seats, its share of the vote rose by only 8.3%, suggesting that it benefitted from vote-splitting in many electorates.

## 1928 election

Following its disastrous performance in the 1925 election, the Liberal Party reconstituted itself as the United Party and regained some of its lost popularity. Reform and United each won 27 seats, with the Labour Party holding the balance of power with 19. Labour were long-term opponents of Reform and supported United, enabling United to take power.

## Election results

| Election | Parliament | Seats | Total votes | Percentage | Gain (loss) | Seats won | Change | Majority |
| 1911 | 18th | 80 | 590,042 | | | 37 | | |
| 1914 | 19th | 80 | 616,043 | | | 40 | +3 | 0 |
| 1919 | 20th | 80 | 683,420 | | | 47 | +7 | 7 |
| 1922 | 21st | 80 | 700,111 | 39.4% | | 37 | -10 | |
| 1925 | 22nd | 80 | 678,877 | 47.79% | +8.39% | 55 | +18 | 15 |
| 1928 | 23rd | 80 | 844,633 | 34.8% | -12.99% | 27 | -28 | |

## Prime ministers

The government was led by William Massey from 10 July 1912 until his death on 10 May 1925. Francis Bell, who had earlier been Acting Prime Minister, briefly became Prime Minister (from 14 to 30 May 1925) but declined his party's offer of the job on a permanent basis. Gordon Coates was then appointed from 30 May 1925, and held the position until 10 December 1928, as his party was defeated in the 1928 general election.
* Prime Ministers of the Reform Government
* William Massey served 1912-1925
* Francis Bell served 1925
* Gordon Coates served 1925-1928

## Cabinet Ministers

| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Start | End |
| Prime Minister | William Massey | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 10 May 1925 |
| Prime Minister | Francis Bell | Reform | 14 May 1925 | 30 May 1925 |
| Prime Minister | Gordon Coates | Reform | 30 May 1925 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Agriculture | William Massey | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 12 August 1915 |
| Minister of Agriculture | William MacDonald | Liberal | 12 August 1915 | 22 August 1919 |
| Minister of Agriculture | William Nosworthy | Reform | 22 August 1919 | 18 January 1926 |
| Minister of Agriculture | Oswald Hawken | Reform | 18 January 1926 | 24 August 1928 |
| Attorney-General | Alexander Herdman | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 4 February 1918 |
| Attorney-General | Francis Bell | Reform | 4 February 1918 | 18 January 1926 |
| Attorney-General | William Downie Stewart | Reform | 18 January 1926 | 24 May 1926 |
| Attorney-General | Frank Rolleston | Reform | 24 May 1926 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Customs | Francis Fisher | Reform | 18 January 1926 | 7 January 1915 |
| Minister of Customs | William Herries | Reform | 12 August 1915 | 6 December 1935 |
| Minister of Customs | Arthur Myers | Liberal | 12 August 1915 | 22 August 1919 |
| Minister of Customs | William Herries | Reform | 22 August 1919 | 7 February 1921 |
| Minister of Customs | William Downie Stewart | Reform | 9 March 1921 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Defence | James Allen | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 28 April 1920 |
| Minister of Defence | Heaton Rhodes | Reform | 21 July 1920 | 18 January 1926 |
| Minister of Defence | Frank Rolleston | Reform | 18 January 1926 | 26 November 1928 |
| Minister of Defence | William Downie Stewart | Reform | 26 November 1928 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Education | James Allen | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 12 August 1915 |
| Minister of Education | Josiah Hanan | Liberal | 12 August 1915 | 22 August 1919 |
| Minister of Education | Francis Bell | Reform | 22 August 1919 | 3 April 1920 |
| Minister of Education | James Parr | Reform | 3 April 1920 | 24 May 1926 |
| Minister of Education | Robert Alexander Wright | Reform | 24 May 1926 | 24 August 1928 |
| Minister of Finance | James Allen | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 12 August 1915 |
| Minister of Finance | Joseph Ward | Liberal | 12 August 1915 | 22 August 1919 |
| Minister of Finance | James Allen | Reform | 22 August 1919 | 28 April 1920 |
| Minister of Finance | William Massey | Reform | 12 May 1920 | 10 May 1925 |
| Minister of Finance | William Nosworthy | Reform | 10 May 1925 | 24 May 1926 |
| Minister of Finance | William Downie Stewart | Reform | 24 May 1926 | 24 August 1928 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | James Allen | Reform | 24 November 1919 | 28 April 1920 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Ernest Lee | Reform | 17 May 1920 | 13 January 1923 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Francis Bell | Reform | 7 June 1923 | 18 January 1926 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | William Nosworthy | Reform | 24 May 1926 | 24 August 1928 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Gordon Coates | Reform | 25 August 1928 | 10 December 1928 |
| Commissioner of State Forests | Francis Bell | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 21 February 1922 |
| Commissioner of State Forests | Heaton Rhodes | Reform | 21 February 1922 | 18 January 1926 |
| Commissioner of State Forests | Oswald Hawken | Reform | 18 January 1926 | 28 November 1928 |
| Commissioner of State Forests | Kenneth Williams | Reform | 28 November 1928 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Health | Heaton Rhodes | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 12 August 1915 |
| Minister of Health | George Warren Russell | Liberal | 12 August 1915 | 22 August 1919 |
| Minister of Health | Francis Bell | Reform | 4 September 1919 | 3 April 1920 |
| Minister of Health | James Parr | Reform | 3 April 1920 | 7 June 1923 |
| Minister of Health | Maui Pomare | Reform | 7 June 1923 | 18 January 1926 |
| Minister of Health | Alexander Young | Reform | 18 January 1926 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Immigration | Francis Bell | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 12 August 1915 |
| Minister of Immigration | Josiah Hanan | Liberal | 12 August 1915 | 16 August 1915 |
| Minister of Immigration | Francis Bell | Reform | 16 August 1915 | 14 May 1920 |
| Minister of Immigration | William Nosworthy | Reform | 14 May 1920 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Industries and Commerce | William Fraser | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 26 July 1912 |
| Minister of Industries and Commerce | William Massey | Reform | 26 July 1912 | 22 June 1920 |
| Minister of Industries and Commerce | Ernest Lee | Reform | 22 June 1920 | 13 January 1923 |
| Minister of Industries and Commerce | William Downie Stewart | Reform | 13 January 1923 | 24 May 1926 |
| Minister of Industries and Commerce | Alexander McLeod | Reform | 24 May 1926 | 28 November 1928 |
| Minister of Industries and Commerce | Alexander Young | Reform | 28 November 1928 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Internal Affairs | Francis Bell | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 12 August 1915 |
| Minister of Internal Affairs | George Warren Russell | Liberal | 12 August 1915 | 25 August 1919 |
| Minister of Internal Affairs | John Bird Hine | Reform | 4 September 1919 | 17 January 1920 |
| Minister of Internal Affairs | Francis Bell | Reform | 17 January 1920 | 10 May 1925 |
| Minister of Internal Affairs | George James Anderson | Reform | 17 May 1920 | 1 March 1921 |
| Minister of Internal Affairs | William Downie Stewart | Reform | 1 March 1921 | 27 June 1923 |
| Minister of Internal Affairs | Richard Bollard | Reform | 27 June 1923 | 25 August 1927 |
| Minister of Internal Affairs | Māui Pōmare | Reform | 25 August 1928 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Island Territories | James Allen | Reform | 24 November 1919 | 28 April 1920 |
| Minister of Island Territories | Ernest Lee | Reform | 17 May 1920 | 13 January 1923 |
| Minister of Island Territories | Francis Bell | Reform | 7 June 1923 | 18 January 1926 |
| Minister of Island Territories | William Nosworthy | Reform | 24 May 1926 | 24 August 1928 |
| Minister of Island Territories | Gordon Coates | Reform | 25 August 1928 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Justice | Alexander Herdman | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 12 August 1915 |
| Minister of Justice | Robert McNab | Liberal | 12 August 1915 | 20 February 1917 |
| Minister of Justice | Josiah Hanan | Liberal | 20 February 1917 | 14 November 1917 |
| Minister of Justice | Thomas Wilford | Liberal | 14 November 1917 | 25 August 1919 |
| Minister of Justice | Gordon Coates | Reform | 4 September 1919 | 3 April 1920 |
| Minister of Justice | Ernest Lee | Reform | 3 April 1920 | 13 January 1923 |
| Minister of Justice | Francis Bell | Reform | 13 January 1923 | 27 June 1923 |
| Minister of Justice | James Parr | Reform | 27 June 1923 | 18 January 1926 |
| Minister of Justice | Frank Rolleston | Reform | 18 January 1926 | 26 November 1928 |
| Minister of Justice | William Downie Stewart | Reform | 26 November 1928 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Labour | William Massey | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 14 May 1920 |
| Minister of Labour | William Herries | Reform | 17 May 1920 | 7 February 1921 |
| Minister of Labour | George Anderson | Reform | 1 March 1921 | 26 November 1928 |
| Minister of Labour | Robert Alexander Wright | Reform | 26 November 1928 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Marine | Francis Fisher | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 7 January 1915 |
| Minister of Marine | William Herries | Reform | 7 January 1915 | 12 August 1915 |
| Minister of Marine | Robert McNab | Liberal | 12 August 1915 | 3 February 1917 |
| Minister of Marine | George Warren Russell | Liberal | 20 February 1917 | 14 November 1917 |
| Minister of Marine | Thomas Wilford | Liberal | 14 November 1917 | 25 August 1919 |
| Minister of Marine | William Herries | Reform | 4 September 1919 | 7 February 1921 |
| Minister of Marine | Francis Bell | Reform | 1 March 1921 | 21 February 1922 |
| Minister of Marine | George Anderson | Reform | 21 February 1922 | 24 August 1928 |
| Minister of Marine | Francis Bell | Reform | 24 August 1928 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Mines | William Fraser | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 12 August 1915 |
| Minister of Mines | William MacDonald | Liberal | 12 August 1915 | 22 August 1919 |
| Minister of Mines | William Fraser | Reform | 4 September 1919 | 27 July 1920 |
| Minister of Mines | William Massey | Reform | 3 April 1920 | 15 April 1921 |
| Minister of Mines | George Anderson | Reform | 15 April 1921 | 28 November 1928 |
| Minister of Mines | Gordon Coates | Reform | 28 November 1928 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Native Affairs | William Herries | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 7 February 1921 |
| Minister of Native Affairs | Gordon Coates | Reform | 7 February 1921 | 10 December 1928 |
| Postmaster-General | Heaton Rhodes | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 12 August 1915 |
| Postmaster-General | Joseph Ward | Liberal | 12 August 1915 | 4 September 1919 |
| Postmaster-General | Gordon Coates | Reform | 4 September 1919 | 30 May 1925 |
| Postmaster-General | James Parr | Reform | 30 May 1925 | 24 May 1926 |
| Postmaster-General | William Nosworthy | Reform | 24 May 1926 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Railways | William Herries | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 3 September 1919 |
| Minister of Railways | William Massey | Reform | 3 September 1919 | 16 May 1922 |
| Minister of Railways | David Guthrie | Reform | 16 May 1922 | 6 June 1923 |
| Minister of Railways | Gordon Coates | Reform | 6 June 1923 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Revenue | James Allen | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 12 August 1915 |
| Minister of Revenue | Joseph Ward | Liberal | 12 August 1915 | 21 August 1919 |
| Minister of Revenue | James Allen | Reform | 4 September 1919 | 28 April 1920 |
| Minister of Revenue | William Massey | Reform | 28 April 1920 | 10 May 1925 |
| Minister of Revenue | William Nosworthy | Reform | 14 May 1925 | 24 May 1926 |
| Minister of Revenue | William Downie Stewart | Reform | 24 May 1926 | 10 December 1928 |
| Minister of Works | William Fraser | Reform | 10 July 1912 | 3 April 1920 |
| Minister of Works | Gordon Coates | Reform | 3 April 1920 | 12 June 1926 |
| Minister of Works | Kenneth Williams | Reform | 12 June 1926 | 10 December 1928 |