Alfred Edden


Alfred Edden was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Parliament from 1891 until 1920 and held a number of ministerial positions in the Government of New South Wales. He was a foundation member of the Labor Party but left the party over the question of the solidarity pledge in 1891. He rejoined in 1895 and remained a member until the party split over the question of conscription during World War I. He then joined the Nationalist Party.

Early life

Edden was born in Tamworth, England. He was the son of a coal-miner who died in a mining accident shortly before his birth. He had little education and worked as a coal miner from age 10. He migrated with his family to Australia in 1879 and worked in collieries in the Newcastle area. After 1879 Edden became an official of the coal miners union and was charged with unlawful assembly during an 1888 strike. He was elected as an alderman of Adamstown Municipal Council of which he was mayor in 1889 and 1891. Edden was a member of the Oddfellows, Masons and Single Tax League.

State Politics

Edden was selected by the nascent Labor party as its candidate for the seat of Northumberland at the 1891 colonial election. He was one of 35 Labor party members elected to the parliament. However, together with 25 of his colleagues he left the party when he was required to sign a pledge to support all caucus decisions. At the 1894 colonial election he successfully contested the newly created seat of Kahibah as an Independent Labor candidate. He then rejoined the Labor party and became the deputy leader in 1902.

Government

With the election of the New South Wales Labor Government of James McGowen in 1910 Edden was appointed the Secretary for Mines. He maintained this position until 1914 when he left the ministry. During the ALP split over conscription in World War I he supported William Holman and was expelled from the party. He joined the Nationalist Party but retired from parliament at the 1920 state election.