Reginald Keeling

Keeling was born in 1904 in Fulham to Alfred J. Keeling.{{sfn|Traue|1978|p=160}} He was educated at Fulham Central School. Upon leaving school he joined Maypole Margarine Works as a cadet in the accounting department. After obtaining his articles he emigrated to New Zealand in 1928 to join Waitemata Electric Power Board as accountant. In 1932 he was appointed manager of Morris Hedstrom Tonga. He was a social activist and an active member of the Labor Party in both England and New Zealand upon returning to New Zealand in 1936, he moved from accounting to social work with the newly formed Child Welfare Division of the Education Department.

He was promoted to District Child Welfare Officer for the East Coast based in Gisborne. He remained in that post until entering Parliament in 1949. An avid sportsman, he was a football referee for twenty years, played senior club tennis well into his thirties and was a keen keel boat sailor. He was President of Poverty Bay Football Association 1940-61, President NZFA 1960-61, President of Auckland Football Association 1961-87.{{sfn|Traue|1978|p=160}}

From that point he made a career well into his eighties out of both national and local body politics. He was Deputy Mayor of Gisborne 1953-59, Member of Cook Hospital Board 1953-61, Member Waitemata Electric Power Board 1965-87, Mayor of Henderson 1965-74, Member Auckland Regional Authority 1965-81, Deputy Mayor of Waitemata City 1977-80.{{sfn|Traue|1978|p=160}} In the 1980 New Year Honours, Keeling was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=209}}{{London Gazette |issue=48043 |date=31 December 1979 |page=25 |supp=3}}

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{{NZ parlbox

|start = {{NZ election link year|1949}}

|end = 1951

|term = 29th

|electorate = {{NZ electorate link|Gisborne}}

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

}}

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|start = {{NZ election link year|1954}}

|end = 1957

|term = 31st

|electorate = Gisborne

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

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|start = {{NZ election link year|1957}}

|end = 1960

|term = 32nd

|electorate = Gisborne

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

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|start = {{By-election link year|Grey Lynn|1963}}

|end =

|term = 33rd

|electorate = {{NZ electorate link|Grey Lynn}}

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

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He represented the Poverty Bay electorate of Gisborne from {{NZ election link year|1949}} to 1951,{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=209}} when he was defeated by Harry Dudfield of National,{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=194}} and again from 1954 to 1960,{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=209}} when he was again defeated, this time by the National candidate Esme Tombleson.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=241}}

Keeling was Chairman of Committees during the Second Labour Government (1957–60).{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=252}} The Labour government held a working majority of one meaning the management of business in the house became vital to avoid the government losing an important vote. Keeling was praised for his skills in conducting committee business, especially for his quick rulings which were both firm and stuck, setting good precedence.{{Cite news |first=R. J. |last=Tizard |author-link=Bob Tizard |title=When MPs held on by self-discipline |date=20 December 1993 |work=The New Zealand Herald |page=8 }}

He then represented the Auckland electorate of Grey Lynn briefly in {{By-election link year|Grey Lynn|1963}} from 18 May to 29 October, after the death of Fred Hackett.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=209}} He stood for North Shore in the 1963 general election but was defeated.

Keeling died on 7 August 1991, aged 87.

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Gustafson |first=Barry |authorlink=Barry Gustafson |title=From the Cradle to the Grave: a biography of Michael Joseph Savage |year=1986 |publisher=Reed Methuen |location=Auckland |isbn=0-474-00138-5}}
• {{cite book| title=Who's Who in New Zealand |editor-first= J. E. |editor-last=Traue |editor-link=Jim Traue |edition=11th |year=1978 |publisher=Reed |location=Wellington}}
• {{cite book |last= Wilson |first= James Oakley |title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 |edition= 4th |origyear= 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher= V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |oclc= 154283103}}
• [http://vdig.net/hansard/content.jsp?id=25912 Richard Keeling's obituary]

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{{S-par | nz}}

{{s-bef | before=David Coleman}}

{{s-ttl | rows =2 | title=Member of Parliament for Gisborne|years=1949–1951

1954–1960}}

{{s-aft|after=Harry Dudfield}}

{{S-bef | before = Harry Dudfield}}

{{s-aft | after = Esme Tombleson}}

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{{s-bef | before = Fred Hackett|}}

{{S-ttl | title= Member of Parliament for Grey Lynn| years=1963}}

{{S-aft | after= Ritchie Macdonald}}

|-

{{S-off}}

{{s-bef | before = Cyril Harker}}

{{s-ttl | title= Chairman of Committees of the House of Representatives | years=1957–1960}}

{{s-aft | after = Roy Jack}}

{{S-bef | before = Frederick George William Wilsher}}

{{s-ttl | title = Mayor of Henderson | years=1965–1974}}

{{s-aft | after = Assid Corban}}

{{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Keeling, Reginald}}

Category:1904 births

Category:1991 deaths

Category:Deputy mayors of places in New Zealand

Category:New Zealand Labour Party MPs

Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1963 New Zealand general election

Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1960 New Zealand general election

Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1951 New Zealand general election

Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives

Category:New Zealand MPs for Auckland electorates

Category:New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates

Category:Companions of the Queen's Service Order

Category:Auckland regional councillors

Category:Members of district health boards in New Zealand