The Long Depression and Labour Issues.

The Long Depression of course began before the collapse of the Bank of Glasgow in 1878. Virtually all of the available land in the South was now occupied by run holders. Sheer greed meant that most runholders had overgrazed their land (too many sheep for to long). Continual burn-offs and the rabbit plague had left a lot of land bare and unproductive. There was nowhere left to expand into. The drop in world wide wool prices hit the overstretched mortagages of the runholders hard and pushed many to the wall. The drop in prices and the collapse of the rural economy led to the depression.

We've been through this in class but remember the downward spiral...

The Depression took almost 5 years to be felt in the North. Why? Because, the north was less reliant on sheep, and Maori land continued to come onto the market allowing that economy to expand. Eventually the depression did arrive but the advent of refrigeration in the ealry 1880's also helped to aleviate the economic downturn.

Older Historians (Sinclair, Oliver) have described the period as a depression but Belich has called it a stagnation. Technically a depression is a continual series of regression (prices & wages fall).

Another effect was in the area of employment. In the South a lot of money was withdrawn from the sheep stations and needed new investment areas. There was still plenty of wool about and it was cheap. Money was pushed towards processing the wool. Woolen Mills sprang up and were filled with women whose wages and conditions were kept down.

Eventually Reverend Waddell gave his sermon on the 'Sin of Cheapness' and the Sweating Commision was created in the wake of public outrage that Sweating had followed them to this 'Better Britain'. This possibility struck a raw nerve in the minds of settlers whose aspirations did not include the poverty and its attendant problems. The Royal Commission report denied the presence of sweating although many of the 'necessary conditions' existed in Dunedin and other southern towns. The Tailoresses Union was widely supported and soon other Unions appeared to protect workers and to employ collective bargaining as a bargaining tool.

In areas where Unions had similar interests they grouped together, the Maritime Unions - Wharfies, Seamen (stop laughing Rowan) and Railway workers had common interests (employers) and in 1889 chose to join their equivalent Australian Unions in a strike. They lost.

However it awoke a underlying class conciousness and political awareness in settlers especially those who had redently acquired the vote. Having a say in Government gave many people the belief that their MP's should actually represent them.

It was this that led to the election of the Liberals.

Timeline: Political Change

1833

James Busby arrives in the Bay of Islands as British Resident in New Zealand – a junior consular representative with little power.

1834

Northern chiefs gather at Busby's house at Waitangi to choose a ‘Flag of the United Tribe of New Zealand’.

1835

A Declaration of Independence of New Zealand is drawn up by Busby without authorisation from his superiors. This asserts the independence of New Zealand, with all sovereign power and authority resting with the hereditary chiefs and tribes. The declaration is eventually signed by 52 Maori chiefs.

1839

The British government appoints William Hobson as consul to New Zealand, with instructions to obtain sovereignty with the consent of a 'sufficient number' of chiefs.

1840

The Treaty of Waitangi is signed on 6 February by about 40 chiefs. By September another 500 chiefs in different parts of the country have signed. On 21 May Lieutenant-Governor Hobson proclaims British sovereignty over all of New Zealand: over the North Island on the basis of cession through the Treaty of Waitangi, and over the southern islands by right of discovery. New Zealand becomes a dependency of New South Wales, a British Crown Colony whose governor is Sir George Gipps.

1841

New Zealand becomes a separate Crown Colony, ending its connection with New South Wales. Communicating with London takes many months.

1846

New Zealand is divided into two provinces, New Ulster and New Munster.

1852

The New Zealand Constitution Act (UK) establishes a system of representative government for New Zealand. Six (eventually 10) provinces are created, with elected superintendents and councils. At the national level, a General Assembly is established, consisting of a Legislative Council appointed by the Crown and a House of Representatives elected every five years by males over the age of 21 who own, lease or rent property of a certain value.

1853

The House of Representatives' first 37 MPs are elected.

1854

The First Parliament meets in Auckland.

1856

‘Responsible’ government begins in New Zealand, with an executive supported by a majority in House of Representatives. The Governor retains responsibility for defence and Maori affairs.

1858

The Waikato chief Te Wherowhero becomes the first Maori King, taking the name Potatau. The rise of Te Kingitanga reflects Maori desires for a leader to unite the tribes, protect land from further sales and make laws for Maori.

1864

The colonial government asserts its responsibility for Maori affairs.

1867

Four Maori parliamentary seats are created (initially as a temporary measure for five years), with universal suffrage for Maori males over 21. The first Maori elections are held in 1868.

1876

The provinces are abolished, leaving central government as the single legislative authority. Hundreds of local bodies soon come into being.

1879

Universal suffrage is introduced for all males over 21.

1893

Universal suffrage introduced for women over 21 (including Maori). New Zealand becomes the first self-governing country to grant the right to vote to all adult women.

1900

New Zealand claims the Cook Islands and annexes several other territories in the early twentieth century.