At the 1906 general election, the 25-year-old Hazelton contested the South Dublin constituency, where he lost by a wide margin to the Unionist Walter Long,[5] a former Chief Secretary for Ireland. However, Thomas Higgins, the nationalist candidate in North Galway, had died the night before counting of the votes commenced and was elected posthumously, thereby creating an immediate vacancy. Hazelton was the only candidate nominated for the resulting by-election, and was therefore elected unopposed when nominations closed on 28 February.[6]
At the next general election, in January 1910, Hazelton was returned unopposed in North Galway,[7] but also stood in North Louth, where he narrowly failed to unseat the sitting MP Tim Healy, of the All-for-Ireland League.[8] However, at the December 1910 election, he was again returned unopposed in North Galway,[9] but also stood again in North Louth. This time he defeated Tim Healy in a bitter contest, by 2,509 votes to 2,021,[10] but the North Louth result was subsequently overturned on petition, the reason cited being corrupt and defamatory conduct.[2][10][11]
On 24 May 1914, he resigned his seat in Parliament, citing health and financial reasons.[12][13] On 21 July 1914, he was re-elected to the same constituency in a by-election, in which he was the only candidate[14] – a comeback to Parliament for the same constituency after 28 days.
He worked as an engineer and, in 1925 was secretary to the Society of Technical Engineers. From 1928 until his death, he served as general secretary of the Institution of Production Engineers.[15]
