He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Hordaland in 1965, but was not re-elected in 1969. He had previously served in the position of deputy representative during the terms 1954–1957 and 1958–1961. From August to September 1963 he served as the Minister of Industry during the short-lived centre-right cabinet Lyng.
Meland was a member of Fana municipality council from 1945 to 1951, and later became mayor from 1956–1959. In 1955–1959 he was also a member of Hordaland county council.