Obituary

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30633, 26 December 1964, Page 17

Obituary

MR L. A. REESBY

The death occurred recently of Mr Leonard Anthony Reesby, a well-known figure in Christchurch's commercial circles.

Mr Reesby began his career with the Gear Meat Company, Petone, and rose to manage its pickled pelt division. In 1919 he joined the export division of A. S. Paterson and Company, Ltd., where his principal task was the inspection of hides, calf skins and pickled pelts for export. In that capacity he visited almost every freezing works in New Zealand. In 1928 he transferred to the Christchurch branch where he established and managed the company’s sheep skin exports, a position he occupied till his retirement in 1955.

In 1953 he formed a partnership which became the North Canterbury Wool and Fellmongery, Ltd., of Kaiapoi. He was also associated with Canterbury Bye-Products Company, Ltd., and A. S. Paterson in the establishment of the Canterbury master butchers’ pool, a co-operative handling organisation for sheepskins and wool products.

While chairman of directors of North Canterbury Wool and Fellmongery, Ltd., he designed and developed a machine which stripped the wool from sheepskins and halved the time and cost of the manual operation. Mr Reesby also at one time played a part in the National Party organisation in the St. Albans electorate.

He was president of the Canterbury Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association in 1944 and 1945, and, was till his death, a member of the board of the New Zealand United Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association and chairman of the “New Zealand Traveller" committee.

Mr Reesby is survived by his wife and a son.