Frank Findlay facts for kids

Frank Findlay (born 1884 – died 31 March 1945) was an important New Zealand politician. He was a member of the National Party, a major political group in New Zealand. Findlay served his country as a Member of Parliament (MP) until his death.

Early Life and Achievements

Frank Findlay was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1884. When he was 18 years old, in 1902, he moved to New Zealand. In his younger days, Findlay was a very talented athlete. He was even a champion in sports like decathlon, high jump, and long jump in the Northland region of New Zealand.

Life in Hamilton

From 1921, Frank Findlay worked as a baker in Hamilton. He was also an active member of his community. He belonged to the Presbyterian church and served as an elder there. He also spent time helping out with the YMCA, an organization that supports young people.

Political Career

Findlay was involved in local politics for many years. He served on the Hamilton Borough Council for 12 years. During some of that time, he was the Deputy Mayor, helping to lead the city.

In the 1943 election general election, Frank Findlay decided to run for a seat in the New Zealand Parliament. He successfully won the election for the Hamilton electorate. He defeated the person who held the seat before him, Charles Barrell, who was from the Labour Party.

Death and Legacy

Frank Findlay was still serving as an MP when he passed away. He suffered a heart attack while playing tennis. He died a few days later, on 31 March 1945, at Waikato Hospital. Because he died while in office, a special election, called a by-election, was held to choose a new MP for Hamilton. This by-election was won by Hilda Ross.