Alfred Saunders

Alfred Saunders (12 June 1820 – 28 October 1905) was a 19th-century New Zealand politician.[1]

For the Irish flying ace, see Alfred William Saunders.

Alfred Saunders
3rd Superintendent of Nelson Province
In office
Mar 1865 – 4 February 1867
Personal details
Born(1820-06-12)12 June 1820
Died28 October 1905(1905-10-28) (aged 85)
Political partyIndependent
Childrenten, including Sarah Page

Early life

Saunders was born in 1820 in Market Lavington, the youngest son of Mary and Amram Saunders. He was educated in Market Lavington and at a Bristol academy.[2] William Saunders (1820–1905) was a younger brother.[3]

Political career
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1861–1864 3rd Waimea Independent
1878–1879 6th Cheviot Independent
1879–1881 7th Cheviot Independent
1889–1890 10th Lincoln Independent
1890–1893 11th Selwyn Independent
1893–1896 12th Selwyn Independent

He was elected onto the Nelson Provincial Council representing Waimea South in 1855 and remained a councillor until his election of Superintendent for the Nelson Province from 1865 to 1867. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Waimea in 1861, and he resigned from this seat in 1864. He then represented Cheviot from 1878 to 1881 when he was defeated. He unsuccessfully contested the 1882 by-election in the Wakanui electorate. He contested the 1888 by-election in the Ashley electorate and was defeated by John Verrall by just two votes.[4]

From 1889 to 1890 he represented the Lincoln electorate and from 1890 to 1896 he represented Selwyn, being defeated at the general election of 1896 for the latter constituency.[5]

Saunders' gravestone at Linwood Cemetery

He supported the Temperance Union petition in favour of woman's suffrage to Parliament in 1891. He had ten children, including Sarah Page.[6]

References
  1. Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
  2. McGibbon, Ian. "Saunders, Alfred". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. "William Saunders – political firebrand". Market Lavington Museum. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  4. "Ashley Election". The Press. XLV (7132). 31 July 1888. p. 5. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  5. "Mr. Alfred Saunders". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Canterbury Provincial District. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1903. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  6. Bohan, Edmund. "Sarah Page". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 5 December 2015.

Further reading
Political offices
Preceded by
John Perry Robinson		 Superintendent of Nelson Province
1865–1867		 Succeeded by
Oswald Curtis
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
David Monro
Fedor Kelling		 Member of Parliament for Waimea
1861–1864		 Succeeded by
John George Miles
Preceded by
Leonard Harper		 Member of Parliament for Cheviot
1878–1881		 Succeeded by
Hugh McIlraith
Preceded by
Arthur O'Callaghan		 Member of Parliament for Lincoln
1889–1890		 Constituency abolished
Preceded by
John Hall		 Member of Parliament for Selwyn
1890–1896		 Succeeded by
Cathcart Wason
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