Alfred Saunders (12 June 1820 – 28 October 1905) was a New Zealand farmer, reformer, women's suffrage and temperance advocate and politician.
Early life and family
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.
The temperance campaigner
Mary Bayly was his sister,
Samuel Saunders (1814–1908) was an older brother
and William Saunders (1823–1895) was a younger brother.
He married Rhoda Flower in 1847.
He was remarried in England in 1899 to Sarah Box.
Political career
He was elected onto the
Nelson Province 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 in the electorate. He contested the in the electorate and was defeated by John Verrall by just two votes.
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.
Authorship
Alfred Saunders was an author and his published titles include;
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"History of New Zealand" a comprehensive two volume publication (550 pages.) 1896–99. Contains much on early NZ Governments. Available on line.
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"The Perfect Draft Horse" 1886
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"Tales of a Pioneer" published by his daughters, 1927. Also available on line
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"Our Domestic Birds" 1883
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"Our Horses" 1885.
Further reading
