Alfred Fraser

The Honourable Alfred Fraser
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Napier
In office 6 December 1899 – 17 November 1908
Preceded by	Douglas Maclean
Succeeded by	Vigor Brown
New Zealand Legislative Councillor
In office 7 May 1918 – 24 February 1919†
Appointed by	Sir Joseph Ward
Personal details
Born	Alfred Levavasour Durell Fraser 1863 Kaiapoi, New Zealand
Died	24 February 1919 (aged 57) Hastings, New Zealand
Political party	Liberal

Alfred Levavasour Durell Fraser (1863 – 24 February 1919) was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.

Early life and family

Fraser was born in Kaiapoi, Canterbury, in 1863 to John Marchant Fraser. He later settled in Hawke's Bay in 1881, and began a career in school-teaching for some years. Fraser then moved to Hastings, where he entered into Native Land Court advocacy.^[1] On 29 December 1892 he married Emily Teresa Dennett, the daughter of William Young Dennett who later served as mayor of Hastings.^[2]

Political career

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1899–1902	14th	Napier		Liberal
1902–1905	15th	Napier		Liberal
1905–1908	16th	Napier		Liberal

In the 1896 election, he unsuccessfully contested the Hawke's Bay electorate against the incumbent, William Russell.^[3] He was elected to the Napier electorate in the 1899 general election, which he represented to 1908 when he was defeated by fellow Liberal Vigor Brown.^[4]

In 1905 the local branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation claimed Fraser was ignoring his constituents and they chose to endorse William James McGrath instead. It was one of many instances in that years election of vote splitting amongst the Liberals.^[5]

in 1911, Fraser stood as an independent for Hawke's Bay 'to support or oppose measures as his principles directed' and said he would only support Joseph Ward's ministry if it did what he himself thought was right.^[6] He was unsuccessful. Fraser's name was also on the ballot for the Hawkes Bay by-election in 1917. However he retired from the contest, yet 9 votes were still cast for him.^[7] In May 1918, he was appointed to the Legislative Council. He served until his death at Hastings on 24 February 1919.^[8][9] He was buried at Hastings Cemetery.^[10]

Notes

1. "Obituary". New Zealand Herald. LVI (17094). 25 February 1919. p. 6. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
2. "Ex councillors". Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts). Wellingon: Cyclopedia Company. 1908. p. 449–450. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
3. "The General Election". Auckland Star. XXVII (305). 23 December 1896. p. 6. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
4. Wilson 1985, p. 198.
5. Hamer 1988, p. 249.
6. Hamer 1988, p. 334.
7. "The Final Figures". Sun. IV (960). 9 March 1917. p. 11. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
8. Wilson 1985, p. 153.
9. "Untitled". Free Lance. 27 February 1919. p. 20. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
10. "CemeteryBase". Hastings District Council. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

References

• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840–1984 (4 ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
• Hamer, David A. (1988). The New Zealand Liberals: The Years of Power, 1891–1912. Auckland: Auckland University Press. ISBN 1-86940-014-3.