HUTCHISON, GEORGE (1846-1930) was born at Dundee, Scotland, the son of W. Hutchison (q.v.). To the age of 15 he received his education in public schools in Ireland and Scotland. Coming to New Zealand with his parents (1866), he was associated with the Southern Cross in Auckland for a year or two; then studied law and, having been admitted, commenced in 1872 to practise at Wanganui and Wellington.

Hutchison first attempted to enter Parliament in 1881. He announced himself for Waitotara, but stood down in favour of Bryce and contested the Egmont seat against Atkinson. In 1884 he contested the Taranaki seat against Atkinson, and in 1887 defeated Bryce for Waitotara, which he represented till 1893. Electoral boundaries having been altered, he sat for Patea from 1893. A vigorous independent in politics, he had a part in the defeat of the Atkinson ministry (1890), but remained in opposition to the Ballance Government and afterwards to that of Seddon. In 1889 he introduced a bill to give accused persons the right to give evidence in their own defence.

In 1899 Hutchison went to South Africa, where for a while he did military staff duty during the advance to Bloemfontein and Pretoria. He resigned his seat in 1901 to practise law in South Africa, where he remained till 1907. After spending two years in England he returned to Auckland, where he passed the remainder of his life. He died on 30 Jul 1930.

Hutchison married a daughter of the Rev D. Hogg (Wanganui). He was for some time an officer of the West Coast infantry battalion. An eloquent speaker and a capital debater, Gisborne expected him to achieve some political success.

Parltry Record; N.Z.P.D., 2 Jul 1890; Gisborne (p); Saunders; N.Z. Herald, 31 Jul 1930; Auckland Star, ib. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 228

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