Alexander Herdman

Alexander Lawrence Herdman (17 July 1869 – 13 June 1953) was a New Zealand politician. He served as Attorney-General, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Police. He is known for his reforms of the civil service and for his hard line on law and order.


Sir Alexander Herdman
11th Attorney-General of New Zealand
In office
10 July 1912  4 February 1918
Preceded byJohn Findlay
Succeeded byFrancis Bell
19th Minister of Justice of New Zealand
In office
10 July 1912  12 August 1915
Preceded byJosiah Hanan
Succeeded byRobert McNab
Personal details
Born17 July 1869
Dunedin, New Zealand
Died13 June 1953
Rotorua, New Zealand
Political partyReform

Early life

Herdman was born in Dunedin. He studied at Otago Boys' High School, and then gained a law degree while working part-time. He was admitted to the bar in 1894, and established a practice in Naseby the following year. He also worked in Palmerston, where he joined the local Freemason lodge. He would retain his connection with the Freemasons over his career, eventually grand master of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand.[1]

Early political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
19021905 15th Mount Ida Independent
19081909 17th Wellington North Independent
19091911 Changed allegiance to: Reform
19111914 18th Wellington North Reform
19141918 19th Wellington North Reform

Herdman began a political career in Naseby, being elected mayor in 1898. He eventually decided to abandon this by moving to Wellington in 1902, but shortly after he arrived, he was invited to return and stand as a parliamentary candidate in Mount Ida, the Otago electorate which encompassed Naseby.[1] In the 1902 election, Herdman ran on a strongly anti-government platform, harshly criticising the governing Liberal Party. He was elected,[2] and joined the unorganised group of independents who opposed the Liberals. He did not, however, move back to Naseby, instead representing his seat as an absentee.[1]

In the 1905 election, Herdman was defeated.[1] In the 1908 election, he contested the seat of Wellington North, and was elected.[2] The following year, William Massey organised the opposition into the Reform Party, which Herdman became part of.[1]

One of Herdman's early concerns in Parliament was the reform of the public service. Herdman believed that the service was poorly organised and subject to political patronage, particularly under the government of Richard Seddon. In the 1911 election, the Reform Party won office as the Reform Government, and Herdman was able to push through his reform proposals – the Public Service Act of 1912 established uniform conditions of appointment and promotion, and established a supervisory commissioner.[1]

Ministerial career

In Cabinet, Herdman served as Attorney-General (10 July 1912 – 4 February 1918), Minister of Justice (10 July 1912 – 12 August 1915), and Minister of Stamp Duties (13 July 1912 – 12 August 1915).[3] In these roles, he gained a reputation as a hard-liner, being described by a contemporary as "ready to employ force ruthlessly for the purpose of upholding law and order". Herdman is believed to have had a major role in the suppression of the Waihi miners' strike, and of the waterfront strike the following year. Both were criticised by many left-wing groups as heavy-handed and repressive, but were defended by the government as necessary steps to preserve order. During World War I, Herdman supported strong measures against anyone protesting New Zealand's participation. As Minister responsible for Police, Herdman also responded harshly to attempts by police officers to form a union, prohibiting the move and attempting to drive the instigators out of the force.[1]

Judicial career

In addition to his political ambitions, Herdman was also interested in becoming a judge of the (original) Supreme Court. As Attorney-General, he had powers to appoint judges, and in 1918, when a position became vacant, he appointed himself. This move was criticised by many as self-interested, especially as Herdman's career as a lawyer had not been particularly distinguished. He served as a judge both in Christchurch and Auckland, and briefly acted as Chief Justice in 1929.[1]

In the 1929 King's Birthday Honours, Herdman was appointed a Knight Bachelor.[4]

Attempted return to politics

In 1935, he resigned from his judicial position to seek re-election to Parliament, contesting the Auckland seat of Parnell. He was officially an independent, although he had close links to the Democrat Party. He was unsuccessful, and subsequently retired to the Lake Okataina area. He died in Rotorua on 13 June 1953.[1]

Notes

  1. Butterworth 1996.
  2. Scholefield 1950, p. 113.
  3. Scholefield 1950, p. 44.
  4. "No. 33501". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1929. p. 3667.

References

  • Scholefield, Guy (1950) [1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Butterworth, Susan (1996). "Herdman, Alexander Lawrence". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
Josiah Hanan
Minister of Justice
19121915
Succeeded by
Robert McNab
Minister of Police
1912–1918
Succeeded by
Thomas Wilford
Preceded by
John Findlay
Attorney-General
19121918
Succeeded by
Francis Bell
New Zealand Parliament
In abeyance
Title last held by
Scobie Mackenzie
Member of Parliament for Mount Ida
19021905
Succeeded by
John Andrew MacPherson
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