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New Zealand Flag Institute |
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Confusion
between the two New Zealand Ensigns, prompted the Premier, Richard Seddon, to
introduce the New Zealand Ensign and Code Signals Bill in 1900. This made the
Blue Ensign with the stars of the Southern Cross the legal flag of New
Zealand, in place of the Union Flag. The Bill received general support in the
House of Representatives. However it met with opposition from the acting
Governor, Sir Robert Stout. He disapproved of the Bill as he felt the clause
reserving the Act for Her Majesty's approval was unnecessary, and that the
Governor ought to be able to assent to the legislation. Seddon disagreed, and
refused to alter the offending clause, as he considered a constitutional
principle to be at stake. Essentially the Premier felt that the matter was
such as required the assent of the sovereign. The bill didn’t proceed
further, since the Admiralty raised other concerns with the new Ensign.
The Admiralty objected to the proposed use of the
Blue Ensign 'for all purposes'. Traditionally the privilege of flying the
Blue Ensign was reserved for Government ships, and other distinguished
vessels. There was concern that the proposed New Zealand Ensign would be
creating a precedent. The bill provided that all New Zealand-registered
merchant ships would be automatically granted the right to fly the Blue
Ensign. The New Zealand Government accordingly agreed to adopt the
traditional limitation, and to limit the use of the Blue Ensign at sea to
those 'vessels owned and used by the New Zealand Government', or where a
warrant to fly the Ensign had been obtained from the Admiralty.
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