Superintendent (New Zealand)

The superintendent was from 1853 to 1876 in New Zealand the chosen leader of the provinces.

Historical classification

The provinces existed in New Zealand from 1841 to 1876 and were the highest administrative unit of the country. During this time there were several changes to the provincial structure of the country. Each of the provinces chose its own legislature, the Provincial Council and a superintendent, who, however, was not a member of the Council. The elections for the Council and the Office of the Superintendent did not occur always at the same time.

Role of Superintendent

For twenty years the Provincial Councils and the House of Representatives were verstickt in a power struggle. The Constitution of 1852 had thirteen areas defined as areas of competence for legislation the House of Representatives: customs, postal, shipping, lighthouses, weights and measures, currency, bankruptcy procedures, legislation, marriages, the lands of the Crown and Māori, Kiminalrecht and Erbreicht. For several reasons, the work of the provincial councils proved at that time but more effective than that of the Parliament. So sat in Parliament for strong personalities, representing different interests depending on the region and had no experience to put the good of the whole country to the forefront. Therefore, the Superintendent enjoyed greater prestige than the Members of Parliament.

The Constitution had the Governor-General of New Zealand granted considerable influence on the Provincial Councils, but it came about that the superintendent grew in power. The Governor could dissolve the Provincial Councils at any time or use its veto to its decisions. He was able to sell the Superintendent, if the majority of the provincial council agreed or the choice of the Superintendent voiding (both within three months after the election ). On the other hand, only the superintendent could convene the Provincial Council. Thus, to delay the first meeting of the Council at three months after the election, to neutralize a large part of the powers of the Governor handed. Thus, the Superintendents were more powerful in political practice, as it conceded them by the Constitution.

Another influence factor to use for its own benefit were those of the long and difficult arrival owed ​​, large distances between the individual parliamentary sessions. Thus, the Wellington Provincial Council had passed a law that authorized him to take out a loan of £ 25,000. At the time of the next parliamentary session, it was already paid off and created a fait accompli.

So the superintendent was more than just the chairman of the provincial council, it was an office that was associated with much honor and responsibility.

Choice of the Superintendent

The passive suffrage at the national and provincial levels had at that time only men who owned the value of £ 50 or a ground lease with a value of £ 10 had. The elections were held every four years and were including the weeks preceding a significant event in the province. Often, adults were able to recall the events in the elections of their childhood.

It was not unusual that newspapers were founded specifically for the purpose of supporting a candidate and to combat competitors. To The Press, now the largest newspaper in the South Island, on one of James FitzGerald ( first Superintendent of Canterbury ) based newspaper back, with this fought the construction of the Lyttelton rail tunnel from its competitors in the second election director, William Sefton Moorhouse, was strongly advocated. Moorhouse, however, took advantage of the Lyttelton Times for his purposes. FitzGerald had been in 1851, the first editor of this newspaper. Although he was no longer editor at that time, the sheet supported him in the "tunnel question."

The perceived importance of the elections also resulted to the possible impact on the daily lives of the voters in their living environment. How could one of the candidates promise to build a school, roads and bridges in their town the other candidate does not. Among other things, taxation, education, welfare, and the temperance movement at that time were important issues.

Originally, the elections were not secret: the registered voters informed the election officials of their choice, this noted it in the voters list. This took place quasi public so that already circulated unofficial projections during the election. However, there were also deliberately falsified " extrapolations " circulated in order to influence the election results. If more than two candidates stood for election, one could argue, for example, a significant backlog for an unpopular, but the leading candidate at the moment, so the following should voters choose candidates to another " more promising ". These unofficial " predictions " also be in circulation after the introduction of secret ballot with a ballot box.