SIR JAMES HUTCHISON

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 1, 2 January 1936, Page 10

SIR JAMES HUTCHISON

Sir James Hutchison, X.8., who is regarded as the doyen of newspaper editors in New Zealand, is one of the best-known figures in journalism, which profession he has graced for more than 40 years. He was born in Wanganui in 1867, the son of a newspaperman. His father was editor of papers in Scotland and Ireland before coming to the Dominion, and on arrival here continued in journalism. In addition to which he found time to fulfil a useful public service, in the course of which he was Mayor of Wanganui, a member of the Wellington Provincial Council, and Mayor of Wellington. He was also a member of the House of Representatives for four Parliaments, representing Wellington City and Dunedin City.

Sir James was educated at Wellington College and later at the Otago University. In 1386 he was attracted to journalism, and accepted a position offered him by Thomas Bracken on the reporting staff of the "Evening Herald." Three years later he was appointed to the staff of the "Otago Daily Times," and following his transfer to the editorial staff, succeeded Sir George Fenwick as editor in 1909. He has attended two Empire Press Conferences, one in Canada in 1920 and the other in England in 1930. Sir James has been prominently identified with various sporting, educational, and cultural activities. He was one "of the founders of the,Poneke Football Club in Wellington, and had a long association in an administrative capacity with the Otago Rugby Union, of which he was president for four years.