JONES, GEORGE (1844-1920) was born at Upper Hutt, and went with his parents to Australia, where he was educated in the common schools and at the Scales Academy and the Grammar School at Geelong. He served part of his apprenticeship there, finished in the Government printing office in Brisbane, and took employment as a journeyman compositor in the Bulletin office, Rockhampton. In 1863 he came to Christchurch and was employed on the Standard, the Lyttelton Times and The Press. In 1866 he went into business as a printer and publisher, having as partner George Tombs, founder of the firm of Whitcombe and Tombs. Having sold out to Tombs (1868), he started a business in Auckland, where for a time he printed the Star. In 1872 he founded the Waikato Times at Ngaruawahia, and in 1874 he founded the Echo in Auckland. This he sold late in 1875 to Reed and Brett and moved his plant to Dunedin. There on 8 Jan 1876 he and G. M. Reed published the first issue of the Evening News, founded to support provincial institutions against their growing enemies. The News closed down on 9 Jan 1878. Jones spent a year on the Otago Guardian and in 1877 purchased the Evening Mail at Oamaru. He changed the name to the Oamaru Mail, which he conducted with signal success as a Liberal organ. In 1909 he formed the business into a company. About the same time he acquired the Southland News, which he formed into a company controlled by his family, two of his sons being editors of the two papers.

Jones believed that the journalist should hold himself aloof from local bodies, and accordingly took no part in public affairs beyond membership of musical societies. He was a fine violinist and was for many years conductor of the Oamaru Garrison band, which he raised from a humble standard to achieving success in contests. Reluctantly he was drawn into political life as the outcome of an article which he wrote in 1877 charging Sir F. Whitaker with having promoted the native land bill in the interests of himself and his friends. Called before the bar of the House, he was adjudged guilty of a breach of privilege and sentenced to be confined, but as he could not be retained in custody after Parliament prorogued, he was prosecuted in the courts in Dunedin and acquitted. The publicity of this trial gave a considerable fillip to the paper, and Jones was drawn into politics as a result. On the resignation of T. W. Hislop in 1880, he was elected member for Waitaki, defeating John Reid and W. H. S. Roberts. He did not stand again in 1881, as he would not oppose Shrimski for the town seat and he believed that the country should be represented by a farmer. T. Y. Duncan was thus returned. Jones became an active supporter of Sir William Fox on the liquor question, and an ardent advocate of prohibition. His political views were strongly democratic, and he believed in the leasehold tenure of land and the subdivision of large estates. He was called to the Legislative Council in 1896, and was a member till 1916, and again from 1918 till his death (on 16 Dec 1920). He married (1865) Dorothy, daughter of Stephen Tweedy, of Sunderland and Canterbury.

N.Z.P.D., 11 Mar 1921; Paul; Scholefield, Union Catalogue; Cycl. N.Z., iv (p); The Press, 25 May 1911; Evening Star and Otago Daily Times, 17 Dec 1920. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 238

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