Alfred Kidd was a New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

 of the Liberal Party

New Zealand Liberal Party

The New Zealand Liberal Party is generally regarded as having been the first real political party in New Zealand. It governed from 1891 until 1912. Out of office, the Liberals gradually found themselves pressed between the conservative Reform Party and the growing Labour Party...

.

Early life

He was born at Hounslow, Middlesex, England, and arrived in New Zealand in 1865, at the age of 14. He worked for 7 years in the Thames Goldfields, and then left to take the position of providore for the steamers of the Waikato Steam Navigation Company. The opening of the railways taking the passenger traffic from the river, Mr. Kidd came to Auckland, becoming the proprietor of the Commercial Hotel, then claimed to be the oldest licensed house in New Zealand, dating from 1841. He held the position of president of the Licensed Victuallers Association for many years.

Political career

Alfred Kidd was elected to the Auckland City Council in 1885. He resigned in 1888, but in 1892 was re-elected, eventually being appointed Mayor from 1901-03.

From 1902

New Zealand general election, 1902

The New Zealand general election of 1902 was held on Tuesday, 25 November in the general electorates, and on Monday, 22 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 15th session of the New Zealand Parliament...

 to 1905

New Zealand general election, 1905

The New Zealand general election of 1905 was held on Wednesday, 6 December in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 20 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 16th session of the New Zealand Parliament...

 he was one of the three Members of Parliament representing the multi-member City of Auckland electorate.

For the 1905 general election

New Zealand general election, 1905

The New Zealand general election of 1905 was held on Wednesday, 6 December in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 20 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 16th session of the New Zealand Parliament...

 these multi-member electorates were split up, and he won the Auckland Central electorate, for which he became the sole Member of Parliament.

In the 1908 general election

New Zealand general election, 1908

The New Zealand general election of 1908 was held on Tuesday, 17 November, 24 November and 1 December in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 2 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 17th session of the New Zealand Parliament...

 he was challenged by Albert Glover

Albert Glover

Albert Edward Glover was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party.-Member of Parliament:Glover represented the Auckland Central electorate in Parliament from 1908 to 1919, when he was defeated....

, and he came second to Glover, who won the seat from him. Both were apparently from the Liberal Party

New Zealand Liberal Party

The New Zealand Liberal Party is generally regarded as having been the first real political party in New Zealand. It governed from 1891 until 1912. Out of office, the Liberals gradually found themselves pressed between the conservative Reform Party and the growing Labour Party...

, so there may have been disagreements in the party over who was the official candidate.

Alfred Kidd lives on through his great grandson, Hamish Kidd

Further reading