OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19732, 24 September 1929, Page 13

OBITUARY.

SIR GEORGE FENWICK. A PIONEER OF NEW ZEALAND JOURNALISM. . [THE PKESB Special Service.] DUNEDIN, September 23, The death occurred this morning after a comparatively short illness of Sir George Fenwick in hia 83rd year, after a long and useful life. For several months past he had suffered from a form of rheumatic trouble, and when about a fortnight ago he contracted a chill he was compelled to take to bed. A local inflammation and other symptoms supervened and, weakened by the condition which had previously developed, Sir George gradually sank until he died from exhaustion.

The late Sir George Fenwick was born at Sunderland, England, on February 2nd, 1847, and when he was six years of age, his parents emigrated to Victoria, but two years later they crossed over to Dunedin, where he was educated. On leaving school, he served a five years' apprenticeship as a compositor with the "Otago Witness," joining the staff of the "Otage Daily Times" when it came into being. In 1866 he went to Sydney, and subsequently secured an appointment on the staff of the "Cleveland Bay Express," Townsville, but the tropical climate did not agree with him, and he returned to Dunedin, securing employment again with the "Otago Daily Times." An old fellow-worker, Mr James Matthews, offered him a partnership in the "Tuapeka Press," Lawrence, which he accepted. After 18 months, however, they sold out to the "Tuapeka Times," and removed to Cromwell, where they established the "Argus," still one of the best known papers published in Central Otago. The country not . being congenial to his progressive temperament, he disposed of his interest in the "Argus" and joined Mr John Mackay (who subsequently became Government Printer), *as partner in a general printing business in Dunedin. They printed for Mr James Mills (now Sir James Mills), the prospectus of a proposed shipping venture, which resulted in the Union Steam Ship Company coming into existence. While still a partner in the firm, Mr Fenwick was selected in 1875 for the position of manager of the "Otago Guardian,'' which proved but the stepping stone to greater things. He soon realised that the paper was not paying its way, and on his advice, it was sold by auction, the purchaser being Mr G. M. Reed, who had previously been in partnership with Mr Henry Brett,.of the "Auckland Star." The pair joined forces in an attempt to improve the paper's position, but in little more than a year they realised that Dunedin was not able to support two morning papers. Mr Fenwick then proposed to his partner that they should float a company, and-endeavour to purchase the "Otago Daily Times" and "Witness." This they, succeeded in doing, and the "Guardian" went out of existence. Trouble was encountered with the staff, who left in a body, and started a rival morning paper, which added considerably to the obligations of Messrs Reed and Fenwick. The business was floated into a limited liability company in j 1878, Mr Fenwick being appointed man- j aging-director and Mr Reed editor. From that date the company has never looked back. He instituted a better system • of news collection, which ultimately resulted in the formation of the United Press Association of New. Zealand, of which he was chairman at the time of his death. He was looking- forward to the celebration of its jubilee, the exact date of which is December 19th of this year. Only quite recently he had compiled an historical record of the events which led up to the formation of the association, with; an interesting account of its early stages and subsequent development. In 1890 Mr Fenwick accepted the joint position of editor and managingdirector, and it was he who exposed the evilß of "sweating" in the tailoring trade in Dunedin. He was also instrumental in raising £II,OOO for Otago University, at a crisis in its history, and the amount necessary to build the Hocken wing to* the Dominion Museum. Mr Fenwick controlled the editorial side of the paper for 20 years, and the active management for 42 years. Since 1919, he had held his old position as managing-director. He had an astonishing capacity for work, and was an ardent tramper. He made many excursions into the remote districts of Otago and the West Coast Sounds, and his wanderlust had permanent record in a number of books and pamphlets. Some slight idea may be gathered of the comprehensive good citizenship in Sir George Fenwick's case by a simple enumeration. of the offices he held in the various companies and associations devoted to commercial, philanthropic, artistic, and religious enterprise. At the time of his death Sir George Fenwick held the following exceedingly diverse appointments:—President of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, of which Society he was the founder in 1885; vice-president of the Patients' and Prisoners' Aid Society; vice-president of the New, Zealand Nurses' Memorial Fund. Member of the Committee of St. Mary's Orphanage, of the Shipwreck Belief Society, of the Public Art Gallery Trustees, of the Hocken Library Committee, of the Patriotic and General Welfare Association, a trustee of the Young Men's Christian Association's building fund, and an hon. life member of the Otago Expansion League. His commercial connexions included the following: —Chairman of the Perpetual Trustees, Estate, and Agency Company of New Zealand; a director of the Standard Insurance Company of New Zealand, of the United Press Association of New Zealand, and of the Lyttelton Times Company. During the year 1916-1917 Sir George Fenwick was elected president of the Chamber of Commerce. Sir George Fenwick had a leaning towards political life, and had been approached several times to stand for political and civic honours, but held that it was incompatible with his journalistic position to do so. As an instance of Sir George Fenwick's foresight and his capacity for inducing the public to support a worthy movement it may be mentioned that some years ago he saved the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society from carrying out its decision - to migrate with its Summer Show to Wingatui. He initiated a movement that prevented this by helping to raise funds which totalled £II,OOO. As a recognition. of his invaluable services Sir George had the honour of being made a life member of the Dunedin Art Gallery Society, of the New Zealand Master Printers' Association, and the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. When in "1909 Mr Fenwick paid a visit to England as one of the delegates to the Imperial Press Conference, he was chosen as chairman of the New Zealand delegation. Similarly, when, during the war in 1918, ha visited Great Britain and France as one of the Press representatives of the Dominion. on the invitation of the Imperial Government, - he. was chosen as chairman of the delegation. With the other delegates, he had the honour of

oeing presented to their Majesties the King and Queen at Windsor Castle. As a fitting crown to a long and honourable career came in 1919 the bestowal direct from the Imperial Government, but with the cordial approval of the Prime Minister of New Zealand, of the honour of knighthood. On the occasion of the Royal visit to the Dominion in 1920 the distinction was personally bestowed by the Prince of Wales in the manner officially prescribed. Sir George Fenwick was married in 1874, to Miss Proudfoot, a daughter of Mr David Proudfoot, who was a wellknown contractor in Dunedin. Lady Fenwick survives him, together with a family of two sons and four daughters. They are as follows:—Dr. George Fenwick (Auckland), Dr. Eardley Fenwick (Wellington), Mrs W. White (The Levels, South Canterbury), Mrs Percival James (Wellington), Mrs E. C. Hazlett (Dunedin), and Miss Fenwick (Dunedin).