Statesmen

Sir George Grey - 10c
Sir George took office as Premier in 1877, but his association with New Zealand had started more than 30 years before.  At the age of 33, he was appointed Governor of New Zealand.  By1848 he had established British rule, roads, schools and hospitals started to appear among the Maori tribes.  In Parliament, Sir George pursued a radical programme advocating such things as a full adult franchise and the subdivision of large estates.  Many of his ideas had to wait many years to become law under other leaders.  Sir George retired from politics in 1894.

Sir Julius Vogel - 10c
Sir Julius's term in Parliament spanned 26 years 1863-1889.  Sir Julius was an excellent policy maker, however the borrowing policies instituted when he was Colonial Treasurer in Fox's government of 1869 were running out of control and his popularity declining when he became Premier in 1873.  Sir Julius had always seen his work in New Zealand as essentially that of colonisation and his efforts were aimed at developing the colony to the utmost.

Richard John Seddon - 10c
Elected to Parliament in 1879, Richard Seddon soon showed an astonishing natural aptitude and amazing stamina in his work as a parliamentarian.  With his huge capacity for work he was the right man for the parliamentary rough and tumble of the 1890s.  Seddon's attitude was that "it is better to wear out than rust".  In 1893 Seddon was installed as Premier.  In all, Seddon led the Liberal Party to victory in five successive elections, becoming popularly known as "King Dick".  The achievement for which Seddon is perhaps best remembered today, was his introduction of old age pensions in 1898.

Stamp bulletin

This stamp issue first appeared in New Zealand Post Stamp Bulletin No. 20 in October 1978.

Acknowledgments: Bulletin scanned and provided by John Biddlecombe of the New Zealand Society of Great Britain. Their web site offers further information useful to those interested in the stamps and postal history of New Zealand. Link: http://www.nzsgb.org.uk/