Background
Collins was born on 4 September 1853 in Harborne, Staffordshire, England and came to New Zealand in 1890.
Collins was born on 4 September 1853 in Harborne, Staffordshire, England and came to New Zealand in 1890.
Collins represented the City of Christchurch electorate in the House of Representatives from 1893 to 1896 and again between 1899 and 1902. He also stood in the 1896 election, but was narrowly defeated. He was a rationalist (free-thought) lecturer and was involved with the English Secularists and obtained a diploma from the National Secular Society.
The Canterbury Freethought Association was established in Christchurch in 1881 and ran until 1917.
Collins left for Sydney in 1918 and died there on 12 April 1923.