Seddon, Richard John (1845-1906), was an English-born politician who served as premier, or prime minister, of New Zealand from 1893 to 1906. Seddon was New Zealand’s longest-serving prime minister. He became known as “King Dick.”
Early life
Childhood.
Richard John Seddon was born on June 22, 1845, in St. Helens, Lancashire, England. His father, Thomas Seddon, was a school headmaster. His mother, Jane Lindsay Seddon, was a schoolteacher. Young Richard behaved wildly at times and was removed from school at age 12. He worked at his grandfather’s farm for two years, then he worked for iron foundries before falling ill of smallpox. After he recovered, he had difficulty finding work.
Move to Australia.
Seddon worked on a ship bound for Melbourne, Australia, in 1863. Upon arrival in Australia, he soon began working at the Williamstown Workshops, a railway workshop operated by the government of the colony of Victoria. He also briefly worked as a gold prospector. While living in Australia, Seddon became engaged to Louisa Jane Spotswood (1851-1931). However, her family would not permit Seddon to marry her until he found better work.
Move to New Zealand.
Seddon decided to try his luck in New Zealand. He arrived at Hokitika, in the South Island, on March 1, 1866. He worked in the gold fields in the Waimea region before opening his own store. He returned to Australia and married Louisa on Jan. 13, 1869. Seddon then returned to New Zealand with his bride. The couple eventually had eight daughters and three sons, but two of the daughters died in infancy.
Early political career
Entry into politics.
Seddon entered local politics in the early 1870’s. In 1852, the British government had granted the colony of New Zealand a constitution that established six provincial governments. Later, the government created additional provinces, including Westland, which came into being in 1873. In 1874, Seddon was elected to the Westland Provincial Council, where he advanced the interests of gold-field workers. In 1876, New Zealand’s government became more centralized. For purposes of local government, it replaced its provinces with counties. That year, Seddon won election to the Westland County Council.
In mid-1876, Seddon staked a claim in the newly discovered Kumara gold fields. He soon moved to Kumara, where he opened a hotel and a general store. In 1877, Seddon became Kumara’s first mayor.
Entry into Parliament.
In 1879, Seddon was elected to represent Hokitika in the House of Representatives. The House at that time was one of the two chambers of New Zealand’s Parliament. In an 1881 general election, Seddon won the newly created Kumara seat in the House. In the 1880’s, he focused his energies on mining issues and avoided most other political matters. In 1887 and 1888, he served as chairman of the Goldfields and Mines Committee. In the 1890 general election, he won the Westland seat in the House. He held the seat for the rest of his life.
John Ballance became prime minister in January 1891. He selected Seddon to serve in his Cabinet with the portfolios (areas of official responsibility) of defense, mines, and public works. Seddon gained the portfolio of minister of marine in 1892. Seddon also joined Ballance’s Liberal Federation, which soon became New Zealand’s first political party, the Liberal Party.
Some people believed Seddon to be unsophisticated, in part because of his rural accent. Others, however, saw him as a man of the people. Seddon traveled throughout New Zealand, making speeches and meeting voters. His popularity grew as a result.
When Ballance became ill in 1892, Seddon was chosen to serve as acting prime minister. Ballance wanted Robert Stout, a former prime minister, to succeed him, but Stout was out of Parliament at the time. Ballance died on April 23, 1893.
Prime minister
Becoming prime minister.
On May 1, 1893, the Cabinet held a party meeting to choose a permanent replacement for Ballance. The Cabinet decided that Seddon should stay in office until the meeting.
Seddon pledged to continue Ballance’s policies and warned that choosing Stout would cause a split in the party. Stout had been an outspoken prohibitionist—that is, a person who sought to prevent the drinking of alcoholic beverages through political action. Seddon remained moderate on the issue. Stout was returned to the House in a June by-election (special election). On June 27, the Liberals held their party meeting and chose Seddon. Stout then tried unsuccessfully to gain popular support over the prohibition issue.
Style of government.
Although Seddon enjoyed great popularity, his nickname of “King Dick” was less than complimentary. Critics accused Seddon of ruling like a monarch with unrestricted power. During one House speech, he called for a government run by a president, with a Cabinet that simply followed orders. Seddon also believed that he should personally approve the Liberal Party’s candidates for Parliament.
Seddon’s opponents criticized him for taking several of the most powerful ministerial portfolios for himself. In 1896, he became minister of labor as well as treasurer, and he kept those portfolios for the rest of his life. Additional cabinet posts that he held at some point during his prime ministership include minister of native affairs, minister of defense, minister of public works, minister of education, and minister of immigration. As prime minister, Seddon promoted his friends and people who did him favors. He disapproved of those who questioned his decisions and tactics.
Reforms.
Under Seddon, New Zealand introduced several important reforms. In 1893, New Zealanders passed legislation giving women the right to vote, even though Seddon did not personally favor such a measure. Seddon’s government passed the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act of 1894 to create a special court to settle disputes between workers and employers peacefully. It also passed other laws to help and protect workers. In 1896, Seddon introduced legislation to establish old-age pensions. The measure met stiff resistance in Parliament before it was finally passed in 1898. In 1906, under Seddon’s direction, New Zealand introduced a retirement plan for schoolteachers.
Seddon’s government also instituted measures to assist farmers in becoming owners of land. However, as a result of these laws, New Zealand’s native Māori people lost much of their land to settlers.
Foreign affairs.
Seddon was a great supporter of the British Empire. He attempted to persuade the British government to let New Zealand govern Fiji, which was a British crown colony. He also wanted the United Kingdom to annex (take possession of) Samoa and to let New Zealand govern it. These ideas were rejected. However, in 1901, the British government granted New Zealand control of the Cook Islands and Niue.
Seddon pledged support for the British during the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902. The conflict was fought between the British and the Boers (mostly farmers of Dutch ancestry) for control of parts of South Africa. About 6,500 New Zealanders served on the side of the British during the war. It was the first international conflict in which New Zealand troops served. The British and their allies ultimately defeated the Boers. War memorials honoring the service of the New Zealand troops were erected in most New Zealand towns and provincial centers. See Anglo-Boer Wars.
Later years.
Seddon remained popular and was returned as prime minister in a record five general elections: in 1893, 1896, 1899, 1902, and 1905. However, in later life, the long work hours, heavy traveling, and other stresses began to take their toll. Seddon was overweight and had a heart condition. His physicians warned him to relax his lifestyle.
In May 1906, he traveled to Sydney, Australia, to negotiate a trade agreement. He chose one of his Cabinet ministers, William Hall-Jones, to serve as acting prime minister in his absence. Seddon spent several weeks in Australia, traveling and meeting with officials. On June 10, he set sail aboard the Oswestry Grange for his return journey to New Zealand. He died of heart failure that evening.
After Seddon’s death, Hall-Jones served briefly as prime minister. He held the office only until Sir Joseph Ward, the senior minister in Seddon’s Cabinet, returned from government business in London. Ward became prime minister in August 1906.
Legacy.
Prior to returning to New Zealand from Australia just before his death, Seddon had sent a telegram reading, “Just returning to God’s own country.” The phrase “God’s own country” has come to be used as a description of New Zealand. Many New Zealanders shorten this phrase to “Godzone.”
A statue of Seddon, unveiled in 1915, stands on the grounds of New Zealand’s Parliament in Wellington. Only one other New Zealand prime minister, Seddon’s predecessor John Ballance, is similarly honored.
