Alfred Dillon

Alfred Dillon
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Hawkes Bay
In office 1905 – 1911
Preceded by	William Russell
Succeeded by	Hugh Campbell
Personal details
Born	1841 Wales
Died	13 November 1915 New Zealand
Political party	Liberal

Alfred Dillon (1841 – 13 November 1915) was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Historian David Hamer remarked that Dillon was the prime example of a "Seddonian" Liberal politician, due to humble, rustic background and appeal as a "man of the people".^[1]

Biography

Early life

Dillon was from humble origins in Wales before moving to New Zealand in 1857.^[2] There, he worked for years as a farm labourer, bullock driver and carrier before acquiring land; he was a rarity amongst Liberals as a runholder with about 3,500 acres (14 km²). A poor speaker and sneered at by William Russell as illiterate, he appealed as a "man of the people" who had made his way by his own efforts. He retained the image of the rugged pioneer; short, barrel-chested, bushy-bearded and usually clad in thick country tweeds.^[1]

Political career

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1905–1908	16th	Hawkes Bay		Liberal
1908–1911	17th	Hawkes Bay		Liberal

Dillon won the Hawkes Bay electorate in 1905, beating the oligarchical Leader of the Opposition William Russell, but was defeated six years later in 1911.^[3] He was 64 years old when he entered Parliament and was known affectionately as "Dad" by other Liberal members.^[4]

Notes

1. Hamer 1988, p. 196.
2. Hamer 1988, p. 362.
3. Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 193. OCLC 154283103.
4. Hamer 1988, p. 197.

References

• The New Zealand Liberals: The Years of Power, 1891-1912 by David Hamer (Auckland University Press, 1988) ISBN 1-86940-014-3