page_title: 1st New Zealand Parliament
section_title: Parliamentary sessions
hierarchical_section_title: 1st New Zealand Parliament / Parliamentary sessions
caption_attribution_description: English: A caricature showing one man overwhelming another, and about to punch him, with a further group of men cheering them on from the background. One of the onlookers is wielding an umbrella. Possibly refers to an incident in the New Zealand Parliament (Auckland) in August 1854 when Henry Sewell grappled with James Mackay, knocking off his hat and seizing his umbrella. The dates do not match, but other details are convincing. The man doing the attacking looks somewhat like Sewell. The man on the far right resembles William Fitzherbert (covering his mouth), then a Member of Parliament. The incident in question took place at the end of the first session of the New Zealand Parliament when the Governor attempted to prorogue Parliament, while the majority in the House (including Sewell) tried to ignore this and continue the discussion. A minority, led by Edward Gibbon Wakefield and including Mackay tried to remove the quorum by leaving. Mackay returned with a copy of the Gazette with its notice proroguing Parliament. He was wearing a hat and carrying his umbrella. The wearing of a hat in Parliament was forbidden. Sewell manhandled him, punched him and pushed him out of the Chamber. The identity of 'R. F.' who has signed the drawing is not known. There was no M. P. with these initials at this period.
context_page_description: The 1st New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 24 May 1854, following New Zealand's first general election. It was dissolved on 15 September 1855 in preparation for that year's election. 37 Members of the House of Representatives represented 24 electorates.
context_section_description: The Parliament sat for three sessions:
  New Zealand had not yet obtained responsible government (that is, the power to manage its own affairs), and so the 1st Parliament did not hold any significant power.
  The 1st Parliament was held before the creation of either political parties or the office of Premier. There were, however, appointments made to the Executive Council (the formal institution upon which Cabinet is based). From 14 June 1854 to 2 August 1854, there was a four-person cabinet, New Zealand's first ministry, led by James FitzGerald, with Henry Sewell, Frederick Weld, and Thomas Bartley (a fifth member, Dillon Bell, also joined for a short time). Then, from 31 August 1854 to 2 September 1854, there was another four-person cabinet led by Thomas Forsaith, with James Macandrew, William Travers, and Jerningham Wakefield. Some historians consider FitzGerald and Forsaith to be New Zealand's first Prime Ministers, but neither held any formal leadership role, and since "responsible government" had not yet been obtained, they had little real power. Henry Sewell, appointed shortly after the 2nd New Zealand Parliament opened, is more often considered to have been the first Prime Minister.
  On 17 August 1854 when the newly convened House of Representatives met, Governor Wynard was proposing to prorogue the General Assembly as he had not received authority from London. Sewell wanted to continue debate and the suspension of standing orders was moved. The minority "Wakefieldites" (followers of Edward Gibbon Wakefield) opposed the move, and tried to leave so that there would not be two-thirds of members present. This led to a violent turn when Sewell was reported to have pounced on the member for Nelson James Mackay and seized him by the throat. Suspension was moved an hour later when some members of the absent majority returned. Mackay was later found guilty of gross and premeditated contempt. There were moves to find the member from Dunedin James Macandrew guilty of contempt for entering the house with his hat on, but this was withdrawn.
  The 1st Parliament consisted of thirty-seven representatives representing twenty-four electorates. Two regions of the colony (the inland regions of the lower North Island and the northwest corner of the South Island) were not part of any electorate, and so were not represented.
caption: Sewell overwhelming Mackay, with Fitzherbert (hand covering mouth) looking on
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