1893 New Zealand Liberal Party leadership election
Open-knowledge reference entry
The New Zealand Liberal Party leadership election 1893 was held to decide the second leader of the New Zealand Liberal Party. The position went to Westland MP and incumbent deputy leader Richard Seddon.
Background
John Ballance underwent bowel surgery in 1893, but was clearly dying. He was visited by all of his cabinet members in the days before his death with the exception of Joseph Ward. Ballance eventually died on 27 April 1893 by which time the jostling for position had already started.
Candidates
Richard Seddon
Seddon had been a Member of Parliament since 1879 and had been serving as Ballance's deputy since his appointment as Leader of the Opposition in 1889. Most saw him as Ballance's natural heir. Compared with many Liberal MPs, he was extremely popular with the masses; a desirable trait with an election looming.
Robert Stout
Ballance's preferred successor was said to have been Robert Stout his former colleague in the Grey and Stout-Vogel ministries. He asked Stout to return to parliament and be his successor.
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