MEMBER’S CAREER

Press, Volume C, Issue 29537, 12 June 1961, Page 12

MEMBER’S CAREER

Broadcaster And Farmer

Mr H. L. Pickering, the new member-elect of Parliament for Hurunui, is a 42-year-old farmer, of Motunau Beach. He is well known to the farming community, as for four years until recently he broadcast the farmers’ “Country Session” and "Home Paddock” from 3 YA. Mr Pickering was brought up on a backblocks farm and educated at Marlborough College before going to Canterbury University College and the Christchurch Teachers' Training College. Early in the Second World War he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force, trained as a pilot, and spent six years in uniform, including two tours of duties overseas. He went farming after the war before joining the New Zealand Broadcasting Service in 1956. Mr Pickering had his grounding in politics at the General Election last year. He stood for National in the Labour stronghold of Avon, where there was one of the biggest swings against the then Government. He has taken an active interest in the National Party at branch, electorate, and division level, serving for six years on the Canterbury division’s policy committee. Other interests have included the Returned Services’ Association, the Air League, the economic and agriculture committees of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Federated Farmers, the Canterbury Farm Training Council, the Economic Society of Australia and New Zealand, and Heritage. Mr Pickering was chosen as the Hurunui candidate from seven nominees. He is married, with three children.