FISHER, GEORGE (1843-1905) was born in Dublin of Scots parentage, and at the age of nine was employed in a printing office in Fetter Lane, London. In 1857 his parents moved to Melbourne and he became a reader boy in the Age office, later being apprenticed to Ferguson and Moore, printers. In 1863 he came to the Otago diggings, but soon drifted to journalism in Invercargill and in 1865 moved to Christchurch, where he was on the Lyttelton Times (1865-69). Then he joined the staff of the Government Printing Office. In 1872 he became a reporter on the Independent, and thereafter was for 11 years on the staff of Hansard.

In 1877 Fisher was elected to the Wellington City Council, from which he resigned in 1881 and defeated the sitting mayor (C.J. Hutchison q.v.). Fisher was mayor for three years (1881-84) and a member of the harbour board. He distinguished himself by his energetic administration and grasp of public affairs. In 1884 he was elected to Parliament for Wellington South and in 1887 for Wellington East. He was Minister of Education and Commissioner of Customs in the Atkinson ministry (1887-89) but resigned owing to a difference of opinion. In 1890 he was returned at the head of the poll for Wellington City, but in 1893 he was defeated by H. D. Bell and John Duthie. In 1896 he came back as junior member for the City, and in that year was elected for the fifth time mayor of Wellington.

Fisher was one of the finest speakers in the New Zealand Parliament, lucid and trenchant; a vigorous personality, but impatient of control or cabinet responsibility. In his later years in Parliament he was almost alone as a 'Fourth Party.' As mayor he helped to found the Home for the Aged and Needy, and promoted the building of the town hall and public library. He died on 14 Mar 1905.

Fisher married (1866) Laura Emma, daughter of James H. Tompkins (Christchurch). A son,

Cycl. NZ, i; Evening Post, 14 Mar 1905.

Reference: Volume 1, page 144

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