1893: The Liberals’ Statist Plank

June 17, 2019

By AHNZ

Today in history, 17 June, 1893: ‘The (Liberal) Ass’s Bridge’. Just as now (June 2019) the Government was giving itself a re-shuffle.

You would know, as citizen of The West, from antiquity until very recently that an ass refuses to cross a bridge. Like sailing analogies, such age old colloquialisms as ‘asse’s bridge’ have dropped from our modern use. Can I explain it as saying it’s a way to separate the ‘wheat from the chaff’ or has that lost currency too? The asse’s bridge is a Harry Potter Sorting Hat- is that OK?

Also, of course, a double entendre allowing the cartoonist to call New Zealand’s ruling party, the Liberals, asses. And their particular policy plank is a very precarious bridge indeed in the run-up to the November 1893 election.

New Premier Richard Seddon has welcomed new Colonial Treasurer Joseph Ward to his Ministerial team, the official Executive Government of just one month at this point. Rather than lead the way, Seddon is shown content for Pember Reeves and then Ward to be the ‘decoy ducks’ in advance.

The (Liberal) Ass.’s bridge. First Hon. Gentleman to Second Hon. Gentleman: “I say, look here, I’m a bit of a Liberal myself, but I’m blest if I dare to risk crossing on that thing!”

Note the symbols on the Treasurer’s satchel: Pounds, shillings, pence; £.s.d. Ward will indeed step out to inherit and champion the Liberal vehicle in the coming election. It will be the first election in which women vote; These Liberal socialists are victorious in a landslide (go figure.)

Old Reeves is such a zealot, of course he’s first in.

Seddon is saying to Ward, “Come on new guy, stick your neck out!”

The list of Statist policies written on the plank to grow the State…

• Elective Governor
• Abolition of Upper House
• State Bank
• Land Tax
• State Steam Service
• Old Age Pensions
• Cooperative Works
• State Farms

About half of these election promises would occur, ever. Thank goodness.

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Update: Image ref. Ashley John Barsby Hunter, New Zealand Graphic; Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections

John Hunter was also a prominent contractor for previous Governments. ref. History Always Repeats: Remembering New Zealand

Hunter, as well as giving the Liberals a hard time with cartoons also contested them for political office. In 1908 he took on the Liberals for the Masterton electorate, in 1915 he tried for the Mayoralty of Masterton. In each case he was up against a powerful incumbent. With a snowball’s chance in hell, perhaps he wasn’t really trying to win just mix it up a bit.

Note: Ward took up the office of Treasurer on 1 May, 1893

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