Alfred Hindmarsh
Encyclopedia
Alfred Humphrey Hindmarsh (18 April 1860 – 13 November 1918) was a New Zealand
politician, lawyer and unionist.
Hindmarsh was born in Port Elliot, Australia
, and was the grandson of John Hindmarsh
, the first Governor of South Australia
. He moved with his family to Napier
, New Zealand, in 1878. Hindmarsh trained as a lawyer
, and was admitted to the bar in 1891. He settled in Wellington
.
, instead advocating an independent labour voice in Parliament. In 1901, Hindmarsh himself stood for the Wellington City Council, but was unsuccessful, but in 1905, backed by the new Independent Political Labour League
which he had helped found, he was elected. He remained a city councillor until 1915.
, Hindmarsh stood as an IPLL candidate for Parliament, but was unsuccessful. In the 1911 general election
, he was elected in Wellington South
as a candidate for the original Labour Party in the second ballot.
In the following year, 1912, the party was relaunched as the United Labour Party
, with Hindmarsh still a member. In 1913, the United Labour Party itself agreed to merge with the Socialist Party
to form the Social Democratic Party
, but Hindmarsh believed that the resulting party would be too extreme. Hindmarsh chose became one of a group of United Labour loyalists who remained outside the Social Democrats, forming a loosely organised "remnant" faction.
In 1915, when the Social Democrats and the United Labour remnant agreed to form a united caucus, Hindmarsh was selected as chairman. The following year, most of this caucus agreed to establish the modern Labour Party
— Hindmarsh was the acting parliamentary leader of the party during its period of establishment, although he did not take any executive office.
Hindmarsh died in office on 13 November 1918 in the influenza epidemic of 1918.
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, lawyer and unionist.
Hindmarsh was born in Port Elliot, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and was the grandson of John Hindmarsh
John Hindmarsh
Rear-Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh KH RN was a naval officer and the first Governor of South Australia, from 28 December 1836 to 16 July 1838.-Early life:...
, the first Governor of South Australia
Governors of South Australia
The Governor of South Australia is the representative in the Australian state of South Australia of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. The Governor performs the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the state level as does the Governor-General of Australia at the national level.In...
. He moved with his family to Napier
Napier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
, New Zealand, in 1878. Hindmarsh trained as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and was admitted to the bar in 1891. He settled in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
.
Early career
Politically, Hindmarsh was left-wing, and held a number of positions in the local labour movement. Most notably, he headed the Wellington branch of the Seamen's Union during the internal disputes of the 1890s. In this role, he argued against the traditional alignment of unions with the governing Liberal PartyNew 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...
, instead advocating an independent labour voice in Parliament. In 1901, Hindmarsh himself stood for the Wellington City Council, but was unsuccessful, but in 1905, backed by the new Independent Political Labour League
Independent Political Labour League
The Independent Political Labour League was a small New Zealand political party. It was the second organised political party to win a seat in the New Zealand Parliament, and was a forerunner of the modern Labour Party....
which he had helped found, he was elected. He remained a city councillor until 1915.
Member of Parliament
In the 1905 general electionNew 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...
, Hindmarsh stood as an IPLL candidate for Parliament, but was unsuccessful. In the 1911 general election
New Zealand general election, 1911
The New Zealand general election of 1911 was held on Thursday, 7 and 14 December in the general electorates, and on Tuesday, 19 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 18th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
, he was elected in Wellington South
Wellington South (New Zealand electorate)
Wellington South is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.-Population Centres:The electorate is in the southern suburbs of Wellington, New Zealand.-History:...
as a candidate for the original Labour Party in the second ballot.
In the following year, 1912, the party was relaunched as the United Labour Party
United Labour Party (New Zealand)
The United Labour Party of New Zealand was an early left-wing political party. Founded in 1912, it represented the more moderate wing of the labour movement. In 1916 it joined with other political groups to establish the modern Labour Party.- Origins :...
, with Hindmarsh still a member. In 1913, the United Labour Party itself agreed to merge with the Socialist Party
New Zealand Socialist Party
The New Zealand Socialist Party was founded in 1901, promoting the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. The group, despite being relatively moderate when compared with many other socialists, met with little tangible success, but it nevertheless had considerable impact on the development of New...
to form the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (New Zealand)
The Social Democratic Party of New Zealand was an early left-wing political party. It existed only a short time before being amalgamated into the new Labour Party...
, but Hindmarsh believed that the resulting party would be too extreme. Hindmarsh chose became one of a group of United Labour loyalists who remained outside the Social Democrats, forming a loosely organised "remnant" faction.
In 1915, when the Social Democrats and the United Labour remnant agreed to form a united caucus, Hindmarsh was selected as chairman. The following year, most of this caucus agreed to establish the modern Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
— Hindmarsh was the acting parliamentary leader of the party during its period of establishment, although he did not take any executive office.
Hindmarsh died in office on 13 November 1918 in the influenza epidemic of 1918.