PROMINENT POLITICIAN MR. GEORGE HUTCHISON DEAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1038, 31 July 1930, Page 18

PROMINENT POLITICIAN

MR. GEORGE HUTCHISON DEAD

LONG AND VARIED CAREER A well-known barrister and solicitor and formerly a prominent Member of Parliament, Mr. George Hutchison, died at St. Heliers Bay yesterday at the age of 84. Born in Scotland, Mr. Hutchison came to New Zealand with his parents about 1853, and settled in the Wanganui district, where he practised as a barrister and solicitor. He had two distinguished colleagues, the late Mr. Justice Denniston being in partnership with him for a time, and also the late Mr. Justice Edwards. The start of Mr. Hutchison s Parliamentary career was in ISB7, when ho defeated the Hon. .John Bry'ce for the Waitotara seat. In the previous election ho contested a Taranaki seat against the then Premier, Sir Harry Atkinson and was narrowly defeated. He represented the Waitotara seat until 1894, when the electoral boundaries were changed and he became member for Patea, retaining the seat until 1901, when he resigned to go to South Africa. An Independent throughout his career, Mr. Hutchison fought many spirited debates in the House, and in 1889 introduced a Bill allowing an accused man, or his wife, to give evidence in his defence. This reform became law, New Zealand leading the way for the rest of the British Empire. SOUTH AFRICAN V/AR When the South African War broke out in 1899, Mr. Hutchison was sent there as a member of the New Zealand Parliament and was attached to tho staff of Lord Roberts as legal advisor, taking part in the Bloemfontein march and going to Pretoria with Roberts. He resigned liis seat in Parliament and went to Johannesburg, where for some time he practised as an advocate of the High Court of South Africa. He went to England for a short time and then returned to New Zealand in 1909. He again went into practice, but lie did not enter politics again, being beaten for the Wanganui seat by Mr. W. A. Veitch, present Minister of Railways, and Mr. J. T. Hogan, now M.P. for Rangitikei, and later was again beaten by Mr. Veitch. Later he practised for a time in Auckland. Mr. Hutchison had a unique association with the House. being the first member of the New Zealand Parliament to occupy a seat at the* same time as his father, the late Mr. William Hutchison. He retired some years ago and travelled a good deal. He is survived by his wife, who is in London, two sons, Mr. Gordon Hutchison, of Auckland, and Mr. L. G. Hutchison, of London, and three daughters, Mrs. S. H. Dagg, of Tunbridge Wells, Mrs. Eric Hutchison, of St. Heilers Bay, and Mrs. O. Bishop, of Twickenham, England. He is also survived by two brothers, Mr James Hutchison. managing editor of the “Otago Daily Times,” and Mr William Hutchison, of the “Cape Argus,” Capetown, who both attended the recent Imperial Press Conference in London, and two sisters.