1. Sir Robert Stout was a New Zealand politician who was the 13th premier of New Zealand on two occasions in the late 19th century, and later Chief Justice of New Zealand.
36 Facts About Robert Stout
1. 2.
Robert Stout was the only person to hold both these offices.
3.
Robert Stout was noted for his support of liberal causes such as women's suffrage, and for his strong belief that philosophy and theory should always triumph over political expediency.
4.
Robert Stout received a good education, was dux at his school when he graduated in 1858 and eventually qualified as a teacher.
5.
Robert Stout became highly interested in politics through his extended family, which often met to discuss and debate political issues of the day.
6.
Robert Stout was exposed to many different political philosophies during his youth.
7.
Robert Stout became active in the Freethought circles of the city.
8.
Robert Stout was called to the bar on 4 July 1871, and proved to be a highly successful trial-lawyer.
9.
Robert Stout became one of Otago University's first students, studying political economy and the theory of morality.
10.
Robert Stout successfully contested an August 1875 by-election in the Caversham electorate and thus became a Member of the New Zealand Parliament.
11.
Robert Stout unsuccessfully opposed moves by the central government to abolish the provinces.
12.
On 13 March 1878, Robert Stout became Attorney-General in the government of Premier George Grey.
13.
Robert Stout had a hand in a number of significant pieces of legislation while in this role.
14.
On 25 July 1878, Robert Stout gained the additional role of Minister of Lands and Immigration.
15.
Robert Stout often expressed fears that private ownership would lead to the sort of "powerful landlord class" that existed in Britain.
16.
Robert Stout supported taxation of privately owned land, especially gains in value.
17.
On 25 June 1879 Robert Stout resigned both from cabinet and from parliament, citing the need to focus on his law practice.
18.
At around this time Robert Stout developed a friendship with John Ballance, who had resigned from Grey's cabinet after a dispute.
19.
Robert Stout eventually concluded that parliament was too fragmented for any real political parties to be established.
20.
At this point, Robert Stout decided to leave parliamentary politics altogether, and instead focus on other avenues for promoting liberal views.
21.
Robert Stout was highly active in building consensus between the growing labour movement and the world of middle-class liberalism.
22.
Robert Stout re-entered parliament after a winning a by-election in Inangahua on 8 June 1893.
23.
Robert Stout, backed by those who considered Seddon too conservative, attempted to challenge this, but was ultimately unsuccessful.
24.
Many of Seddon's supporters believed that the progressive views of Ballance and Robert Stout were too extreme for the New Zealand public.
25.
Robert Stout remained in the Liberal Party, but constantly voiced objections to Seddon's leadership.
26.
Ballance's idea of a united progressive front, Robert Stout believed, had been subverted into nothing more than a vehicle for the conservative Seddon.
27.
Seddon defended himself against these charges by claiming that Robert Stout was merely bitter about not gaining the leadership.
28.
One of the last major campaigns that Robert Stout participated in was the drive to grant voting rights to women.
29.
Robert Stout had long been a supporter of this cause, having campaigned tirelessly for his own failed bill in 1878 and Julius Vogel's failed bill in 1887.
30.
Robert Stout had been highly active in the campaign to increase property rights for women, having been particularly concerned with the right of married women to keep property independently from their husbands.
31.
However, a major initiative by suffragists led by Kate Sheppard generated considerable support for women's suffrage, and Robert Stout believed that a bill could be passed despite Seddon's objection.
32.
Robert Stout had represented the seats of Caversham in the 5th parliament, Dunedin East in the 6th parliament and in the 9th parliament, Inangahua in the 11th parliament, and the City of Wellington in the 12th and 13th parliaments.
33.
Robert Stout took a leading part in the consolidation of New Zealand statutes, and was made a Privy Councillor in 1921.
34.
Robert Stout had a role of considerable importance in the development of the New Zealand university system.
35.
Robert Stout had become a member of the Senate of the University of New Zealand in 1885, and remained so until 1930.
36.
Robert Stout was prominent in Otago University from 1891 to 1898, serving on its council.