FINDLAY, SIR JOHN GEORGE (1862-1929) was the son of G. A. Findlay, merchant, and was born in Dunedin. Educated at Scott's Academy, Hokitika, he proceeded to Otago University, where he graduated LL.B. in 1886 and LL.D. in 1893. He distinguished himself in philosophy under Macgregor.

Admitted to the bar in 1887, he commenced to practise in Palmerston (Otago) in partnership with F. G. Dalziell (q.v.), and then moved to Dunedin where for one year (1893-94) he was lecturer in political economy at the University. In 1894 Findlay entered into partnership with Stout at Wellington, where he had a distinguished career at the bar. On the appointment of Stout to be Chief Justice (1899), he took Dalziel in as partner until 1914, and later, D. R. Hoggard, D. M. Findlay and J. C. Morison. Findlay's practice was a lucrative one and enabled him as the years passed to devote more of his time to the study of politics and literature, in both of which he took a keen delight. He wrote a great deal to the press on historical and literary subjects, lectured gracefully and fluently, and was a scholarly and forceful speaker. On the other hand he failed on the political platform and was never able to gain acceptance with the electors. When he first contested a seat (in Wellington City) in 1902 it was evident that his political addresses did not appeal to a democracy whose principles he so stoutly enunciated. Shortly afterwards, however, he was closely in the confidence of Seddon and assisting him in the promulgation of his manifestoes. Seddon was willing to give him a seat in the Legislative Council, but he preferred to gain admission to the elective chamber. He composed the election manifesto of 1905 with its exposition of Liberal humanitarianism.

When Sir Joseph Ward became Prime Minister he retained Pitt as Attorney-general, but his health failing before the end of the year he retired. Findlay was called to the Legislative Council (23 Nov 1906) and took the portfolio, together with that of Internal Affairs. As leader of the Government in the Legislative Council he was a marked success in spite of his lack of parliamentary experience. Tactful, hardworking, always abreast of political developments, he conducted the affairs of the Council in a manner which commanded general approval in a period which was admittedly one of the most brilliant from a debating point of view in the history of the Council. In Jun 1909, on the death of James McGowan, Findlay assumed also the portfolio of Justice. He was now close in the confidence of Ward, and accompanied him to the Imperial Conference of 1911. There he appeared to some extent to dominate his leader, who put forward a plan for an empire parliament with every appearance of not having mastered it. The conference politely but firmly rejected the proposal. Findlay tells a little of the inside history of the Conference in his gracefully written volume The Imperial Conference from Within, which he published in the following year. He was knighted (K.C.M.G.) during his visit to England. At the general election of 1911 Findlay resigned from the Council in the hope that he would be accepted as a democratic representative by gaining a seat in the House of Representatives. He stood for Parnell but was defeated by J. S. Dickson. (Dickson 3,585; Findlay, 2,971; M. J. Mack, 1,557. Second ballot: Dickson, 4,264; Findlay, 3,826) While Attorney-general, Findlay created the office in New Zealand of King's Counsel, and was himself one of the first batch appointed (Jun 1907). He also endeavoured while in Parliament to reform the Court of Appeal procedure in New Zealand. His legislation during the six years he was Attorney-general was marked by many instances of his wisdom in legal reform.

Accepting the rebuff at the hands of the electors, Findlay retired from politics for a few years, devoting his time to his practice and to his passion for writing and literature. He was elected a member of the Victoria College council (1900-05, 1906-10) and was chairman in 1906.

During the war, with a coalition Cabinet in office, the opportunity presented itself to Findlay of fulfilling his wish by entering the elective chamber. On the death of McNab he contested the Hawkes Bay seat and was returned (3 Feb 1917). (Findlay, 2,641; Simson, 2,175; Fraser, 11.) It was, however, to be a barren triumph. Owing partly to the years he had spent out of politics, but more to the special conditions of the war, he remained a private member until the next general election. The coalition had by then dissolved and he retired from politics for good. The part which he had played was unique. While still in private life he exercised what Bell described as 'a singular influence' over the legislation of the later days of Seddon, and eventually he gained a similar influence over Ward. While in office he carried through measures in law reform which expressed the views of the experienced lawyer rather than the politician; and in the wider sphere of Empire politics he took an outstanding, if not entirely successful, line at the Conference of 1911. On his subsequent withdrawal from politics he accepted philosophically the compensating opportunity which it gave for intellectual and social pastimes in which he delighted. He founded the Wellington Shakespeare Society and was president for some years.

Findlay's other publications were Humbugs and Homilies (1908), and many articles in reviews, and notably in The Citizen, the organ of the Forward Movement (1895).

Findlay married (1890) Josephine Emily, daughter of James Arkle (Lawrence). He died on 8 Dec 1929.

N.Z.P.D., 1907-11; 1917-19; Parltry Record; Findlay, op. cit.; Butterworth's Fortnightly Notes, 8 Dec 1925, 17 Dec 1929; Evening Post, 9, 11 Dec 1929; The Dominion, 10, 12 Dec 1929. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 142

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