DEATH OF SIR ALFRED CADMAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8273, 23 March 1905, Page 3

DEATH OF SIR ALFRED CADMAN.

+ SPEAKER OF TRE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, March 23 • Sir Alfred Cadman. Speaker of the Legislative Council, died this morning, ; after a long illness. I (Sir Alfred Jerome Cadman was | the eldest son of the late Mr Jerome Cadman, who was wellknown to Aucklanders as a prominent member of the Provincial bounoil. Sir Alfred was born in Sydney. New South Wales, in 1847, and was an infant when his parents crossed over to Auckland. When Sir A. J. Cadman was about twenty-one he went to settlo in Coromandel, where he entered into the sawinilling business, in wiucn he did well for many years. Sir A. J r Cadman first entered politics as a member of the Tiki Highway Board at Coromandel. Here he speedily rose to the position of chairman, which he held for some years. On the coming into operation of the Counties Act Sir A. J. Cadman was one of the first members of the Coromandel County Council, to the chair of which body he was at once elected. He held this position for ten years, and did a good deal to further the progress of the district. At the end of 1881 Sir A. J. Cadman Vas first returned to Parliament as member for Coromandel; three years later, and again in 1887, he was re-elected for the same constituency. In 1890 the honourable gentleman was elected for the '.Thames clectorate^-which then included the main portion 1 of th» old Coromandel electorate — after a severe fight. In 1893 Mr W. L. Rees attacked Sir A. J. Cadman on the floor of the House, stating that he had used his position as Native Minister to further his own private interests in connection with the purchase of some Native lands in Hawke's Bay. Sir Alfred challenged Mr Rees to resign his seat and contest a constituency, so that tne electors might express their opinion on the charges made against him, and his conduct as a Minister. Mr Cadman gave his adversary the choice of a battleground, expressing himself willing to meet Mr Rees either /at the Thames or in Auckland City, the latter's own constituency. Mr Rees accepted the challenge, and chose his own constituency. Both gentlemen resigned on July 20, 18{J3, and the city of Auckland became the scene- of a fierce struggle between tho two politicians, the result being a victory for Sir A. J. Cadman by one of the largest majorities, 750, ever gained before the advent of the fair sex to the New Zealand polling-booths. At the general election of 1893 Sir A. J Cadman successfully wooed the electors of the Waikato, for which district he sat until his elevation to the Legislative Council. It may be remarked that in the honourable, gentleman's political career lie never on any occasion lost an election from a seat on a Road Board upwards. Pie first became a Minister of the Crown in the Ballance Ministry in January, 1891, when ho became Commissioner of Stamp Duties, which position he retained for only six days. On February 4, 1891, he took the portfolio of Native Affairs, and on May 28 of the same year he was appointed Minister of Justice. In the Setldon Government he continued Native Minister and Minister •'of- Justice till his resignation on June. 20, 1893. On his return. to the House he was pressed to resume his old portfolio as Native Minister, but declined -to-do so, and was therefore appointed Minister of Mines, and again took the portfolio of Justice. The position oi Minister of Mines was a peculiarly congenial one to Sir A. J. Cadman, as, having lived' the best part of his life on the goldfields, he naturally took great interest in mining legislation, and _ was au fait with matters affecting that industry. The portfolio of Rail-, ways was conferred on Sir A. J. Cadman in January, 1895. A fact not generally known is that this was in accordance with a wish expressed by his late chief (the Hon J. Ballance) some time before his death. In 1*599 Sir Alfred retired from the Government, and in 1904 was appointed Speaker of the Legislative Council. In 1876 he was married to Miss Bell, daughter of Mr Joseph Bell, J.P., of Whangarei. Lady Cadman died in April, 1892, leaving one son and one daughter. Sir Alfred received the order of C.M.G. in 1901, and was created a Knight of the same order in 3903.)