Alfred Cadman

ABOUT ALFRED CADMAN

New Zealand politician who is known for working as the Minister of Railways from 1895 to 1899. He began his political career serving in Parliament in 1881 and was an independent before switching to the Liberal Party. In 1899 he was appointed to be on the Parliament's Legislative Council and was speaker from 1904 until his death in 1905.

He attended Wesley College and then completed an apprenticeship as a carpenter.

In the 1860s, he served as a volunteer in the New Zealand Wars.

He was born in Sydney, Australia and emigrated to New Zealand with his family as a child.

While in government, he worked to find solutions to the conflict between the native Maori people and the settlers. Actresses Rena Owen and Miriama Smith are of Maori heritage.