Page 41 - Bulletin 15 2011

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The oldest of the family, Doris Werge, and the youngest, Gerald Stuart-Findlay, were in turn

to live in homes in St. James.

By 1898 George William’s family was living in ‘Westwood’, a large home he built in
Heatherton Road, Newlands and, sadly, it appears that young Arthur died from an infection

caught in the Black River that ran in front of the house. (Fig. 1.44.)

In 1897 on his father’s retirement George William entered into a seven-year partnership

agreement with George Dunn and David Houliston to take over George Findlay & Co. During
the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 –1902, Cape Town boomed as it was crowded with refugees

from the Transvaal and the city had become a vital supply depot for the British Army. In 1900
the shop in Parliament Street was extended through to Adderley Street, fronted by a four-

storied gabled façade designed by Herbert Baker that still exists today, and the extension
housed the new Electrical Department. (Fig. 1.45.)

By 1904, when the partnership agreement was to be renewed, a serious post-war depression
had set in and for the next few years there were constant problems paying out amounts due to

creditors and partners. George William became Chairman and Managing Director of the P.

Frank Cushing Tin Syndicate that developed a mine in the hills above Kuils Rivier. The
company was floated on the London Stock Exchange in June 1906 with capital of ₤300,000

and he lost a considerable amount of money when the shares which had been issued at ₤25
failed to sell at 3 shillings. He was also extremely active in civic affairs and was on the

committee of the Manufacturers Association and held the commission of Captain and
Adjutant of the Cape Peninsula Rifles.

By 1909 George Findlay & Co. had weathered the worst of the slump, but it is clear that
Stephen Trill was keeping the business going financially. Eventually a limited liability

company, George Findlay & Co. Ltd. was formed in 1912 with Stephen holding the majority
of the preference shares. The company was a major importer of agricultural, mining and

household equipment but was battling with the profitability of departments such as
Coachbuilders Requirements, which covered items like springs, axles and cart fittings. At the

time a salesman would set out into Namaqualand in a buck wagon with four mules and would

not be seen again for three months and it was only in 1912 that the wagon was replaced by a