THE MAN ...

Press, 23 August 1977, Page 19

THE MAN ...

Mr Reeves Harris, the new president of the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce and a director of A. R. Harris, Ltd, is a business executive who started from the bottom and worked his way up to the top. His association with A. R. Harris — importers, distributors, and manufacturers of electrical engineering machinery, based in Christchurch — started in 1933 as an office boy. From then until 1937 he gained broad experience of

all activities of the company.

In mid-1937, Mr Harris joined the National Commercial Broadcasting Service, before the opening of station 3ZB in Christchurch, and was mainly concerned with administration — although he did produce some of his own programmes — until 1939 when, on leave of absence, he went overseas.

While he was in North America, the Second World War broke out and so Mr Harris’s plans to go to England had to be shelved.

But, because of the war, he was unable to get back to New Zealand either. Instead, he joined* an electrical manufacturing company in Canada until 1941 when he was appointed to the staff of the New Zealand supply mission in Washington, D.C.

Later, he was transferred to the secretariat of the British Supply Council where, among other things, he was chairman of the Commonwealth committee on civilian supply. The United States made certain goods available, such as food and clothing, and these were then apportioned by the supply council to individual countries.

While still in Washington, Mr Harris was transferred to the British Staff Combined Produce and Resources Board, an overall allied planning board, until the war was over. He returned home to Christchurch and rejoined A. R. Harris, where he has remained since.

Since’leaving school, Mr Harris has been closley associated with his old school. Cathedral Gram-

mar, and has been a member of the board of governors for many years. He was also a foundation member of the board of the N.Z.B.C. from its establishment in 1962 until 1970.

Up to 1974, he was a member of the organising committee of the Commonwealth Games, and was chairman of the news media committee for the Games. He was also a guest of the organising committee for the Munich Olympic Games in 1972.

Mr Harris has a keen interest in the arts, especially music, and has been associated with administration of the N.Z.B.C. Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Christchurch Musical Society. He is also chairman of the recently-formed Christchurch community arts council. In what, little spare time he has left, Mr Harris plays golf and bridge.

His interest in the Chambers of Commerce arose through Mr George Stock, a Wellington businessman, who was on the board of the N.Z.B.C. with Mr Harris. It was Mr Stock who talked him into joining the chamber and Mr Harris then became a member of the Canterbury council. From October 1975 to 1976 he was president of the Canterbury chamber, and in July, 1976, he was elected vicepresident of the national organisation.

Last month, at the national conference at Wairakei, he was elected president. <