The Imperial Conference of 1911 From Within
by Sir John G. Findlay, K.C.M.G., K.C., LL.D.
Attorney-General of New Zealand and a Representative of New Zealand at the Imperial Conference, 1911.
London: Constable & Company Ltd., 1912
An interesting first-hand account of the 1911 Imperial Conference by the distinguished New Zealand lawyer and politician Sir John George Findlay (1862–1929), who attended the conference in London as one of New Zealand's representatives.
This particular copy is considerably enhanced by an original handwritten letter from Lady Josephine Emily Findlay, Sir John Findlay's wife, which has been mounted inside the front of the volume. The letter appears to relate directly to the presentation/supply of a copy of her husband's book and therefore provides attractive contemporary association provenance.
Written on headed paper from:
109 Queen's Gate, S.W.
Tuesday
My reading of the letter is:
Dear Lord ????,
I could not get a copy
of my husband's book today, but
Bumpus promises to procure me
[one] tomorrow & send it to you, so I
hope it will arrive. We both felt
very grateful after our very pleasant
visit to W??????? Park & have
pleasant memories of your kindness.
I hope we shall see you again in N.Z.Very sincerely yours,
Josephine E. Findlay
A few words are difficult to decipher and the above transcription should therefore be regarded as a best reading of the handwriting.
The reference to Bumpus is particularly interesting: this appears very likely to be the well-known London bookselling firm John & Edward Bumpus Ltd. Lady Findlay seems to be telling Lord ???? that she had been unable to obtain a copy of her husband's book that day, but that Bumpus had promised to procure one and send it to him.
Taken together with the fact that the letter has remained with this copy, it seems quite plausible that this is the very copy referred to in the letter, although this cannot be established with absolute certainty.
There is additionally an old calling/visiting card for Lady Findlay, Wellington, 8 Boulcott Terrace, mounted on the front pastedown, with contemporary manuscript annotations including the name of the person to whom this letter is addressed.
Sir John George Findlay was a prominent New Zealand lawyer, politician and writer. He served as Attorney-General of New Zealand from 1906 to 1911, was Minister of Justice and leader of the Legislative Council, and accompanied Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward to London for the 1911 Imperial Conference. He was created K.C.M.G. during his visit to Britain. Contemporary biographical sources record that Findlay's legal abilities and contribution to the conference were highly regarded.
The National Library of New Zealand holds Findlay's papers and, notably, preserves a bound typescript with manuscript corrections of this very work, The Imperial Conference of 1911 From Within.
The book gives an insider's account of the conference and discusses such matters as its methods of work, the subjects considered, and New Zealand's proposals for Imperial federation. The conference formed part of the continuing early-20th-century debate about the political relationship between Britain and the self-governing Dominions.
Includes:
Pagination: vi, [1], 1–175pp
Size: approximately 195 × 130 × 25mm
Weight: approximately 333g
Original blue cloth-covered boards with gilt lettering to spine.
The binding remains good, with some light shelf wear, rubbing and minor marks commensurate with age. Some rubbing is visible at the spine ends and extremities. Text-block-edges are partially foxed.
Internally generally clean for its age, with some toning and occasional minor marks. There is a small contemporary pencil annotation visible to one page photographed.
The original Lady Findlay letter has been mounted towards the front of the volume and shows age-toning, folds/creases and some staining. An old Lady Findlay calling card is mounted to the front pastedown. Front and final leaves are heavily browned.
Please study all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the description.
A fascinating association copy of Findlay's account of the 1911 Imperial Conference, with an original letter from the author's wife apparently concerning the procurement and sending of a copy of the book to its recipient.
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