Alexander Herdman

The Honourable Sir Alexander Herdman
11th Attorney-General of New Zealand
In office 10 July 1912 – 4 February 1918
Preceded by	John Findlay
Succeeded by	Francis Bell
19th Minister of Justice of New Zealand
In office 10 July 1912 – 12 August 1915
Preceded by	Josiah Hanan
Succeeded by	Robert McNab
Personal details
Born	17 July 1869 Dunedin, New Zealand
Died	13 June 1953 Rotorua, New Zealand
Political party	Reform

Alexander Lawrence Herdman (17 July 1869 – 13 June 1953) was a New Zealand politician. He served as Attorney-General, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Police. He is known for his reforms of the civil service and for his hard line on law and order.

Herdman was born in Dunedin. He studied at Otago Boys' High School, and then gained a law degree while working part-time. He was admitted to the bar in 1894, and established a practice in Naseby the following year. He also worked in Palmerston, where he joined the local Freemason lodge. He would retain his connection with the Freemasons over his career, eventually grand master of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand.

Herdman began a political career in Naseby, being elected mayor in 1898. He eventually decided to abandon this by moving to Wellington in 1902, but shortly after he arrived, he was invited to return and stand as a parliamentary candidate in Mount Ida, the Otago electorate which encompassed Naseby. In the 1902 election, Herdman ran on a strongly anti-government platform, harshly criticising the governing Liberal Party. He was elected, and joined the unorganised group of independents who opposed the Liberals. He did not, however, move back to Naseby, instead representing his seat as an absentee.

In the 1905 election, Herdman was defeated. In the 1908 election, he contested the seat of Wellington North, and was elected. The following year, William Massey organised the opposition into the Reform Party, which Herdman became part of.

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