A Politician’s Death.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3497, 16 March 1905, Page 2

A Politician’s Death.

LATE MR GEORGE FISHER, • M.H.R. At the age of 62 years, Mr George Fisher has passed to his rest, after A life of more than ordinary strenuousness and activity. The deceased had been for forty-three years a resident of New Zealand, and from being a working compositor rose to the position —held only for two yeai’s—of Cabinet Minister. During the whole ot his public career he was connected with Wellington, as City Councillor, Mayor and member of the House of Representatives. His services were highly appreciated, as was shown by the way in which the city constituency—ordinarily “ fierce and fickle "—repeatedly expressed its confidence in him. He was affectionately dubbed "the people’s George,” and no one was more popular than he in the whole provincial district. Mr Fisher was for five years Mayor of the city, and for eighteen years represented it, or some division of it, in Parliament. _ When at his best he was ranked with the foremost of Parliamentary orators. His imposing presence, and his powerful voice, which he knew well how to use, made him an impressive figure in the House, and his powers of declamation, sarcasm, ridicule and denunciation rendered his speeches most effective. A certain lack of steadiness of purpose and definite ambition alone prevented him attaining to the highest position in the State. For some years past, though retaining his seat in Parliament, he has been recognised as a spent force ; and his occasional endeavours to wield his former gift of oratory have merely served to emphasise the pa’hetic fact. His demise, which occurred at 11.30 on Tuesday night, creates a vacancy in the representation of the city, which will have to be filled by a bye-election. In view of the fact that there must be a dissolution in November next, and the further circumstance that, owing to the redistribution of seats, a contest just now will be valueless as a preparation for the general election, there will probably not be keen competition for the vacant seat.—" New Zealand Times.”