DALZIELL, FREDERICK GEORGE (1865-1931) was born at Auckland, the son of William Dalziell (Leith, Scotland), and educated at Ellis's private school, New Plymouth. There he entered the civil service in the Deeds Registry Department. Being transferred to Dunedin, he began to study law, and was admitted to the bar in 1892. Entering the office of Stout and Mondy, he was invited in 1894 by J. G. Findlay (q.v.) to take charge of his practice at Palmerston. Thereafter he practised on his own account in Lawrence. As a young man he was a keen cricketer, footballer and tennis player (being champion of Otago on one occasion).

In 1899, on the appointment of Stout to be chief justice, he joined Findlay in his Wellington practice and continued in that partnership for many years. He was a recognised authority on company law and was a director of the New Zealand Times Co. and managing director of the Taupo-Totara Timber Co.

Dalziell was a serious student of philosophy and social politics, and from 1919 published many pamphlets on current politics and expounding his theory that most of the ills of civilisation would yield to recognition of certain fundamental rules of life and a simplified system of living. In 1919 he published The Truth of Life, as Disclosed in Half a Century of the National Life of New Zealand, and thereafter about 18 pamphlets on various phases of social organisation and Christianity. For some years in succession he petitioned Parliament seeking recognition of his 'truth of life' statement. The petitions were referred to parliamentary committees and were the subject of debates in the House of Representatives. Dalziell married (1906) Pearl, daughter of Dr M. S. Grace (q.v.). He died on 14 Apr 1931.

Hansard, 30 Jul 1926, 11 Sep 1930; Who's Who N.Z., 1924; Evening Post, 15 Apr 1931.

Reference: Volume 1, page 112

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