Story: Cabinet government

Collective responsibility: the wreck (2nd of 3)

Collective responsibility: the wreck

Joseph Ward, who became prime minister in August 1906, had to contend with a large and unruly caucus, and from 1908 his cabinet was not very able. A lack of clear policy direction and arguments among his supporters in Parliament weakened the government in the public's eye. Following a deadlock in the election of 1911, in which his political aspirations were demolished, Ward resigned in March 1912. This cartoon depicts Ward and two of his ministers on a raft, trying to survive the 'wreck' of the election.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-315-2-017
Cartoon by Trevor Lloyd

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Chris Eichbaum, 'Cabinet government - Collective responsibility', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/cartoon/34359/collective-responsibility-the-wreck (accessed 9 May 2024)

Story by Chris Eichbaum, published 20 Jun 2012