National Party Candidate

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 5, 3 July 1946, Page 10

National Party Candidate

MR. ERIC REEVES Mr. Eric Reeves, who is one of those nominated for selection as the National Party candidate i'oi’ the Hutt Electorate, was born in Wellington and has lived in the district all his life. He has for a long time been closely connected with the National Party. In 1937 and 1938 he was chairman of the Day's ,Bav branch and was also active in the Wellington branch activities. He also for the year 1944-4 5 acted as chairman of the Hutt North branch and has, since then, continued to act as a delegate to the Electoral Committee. In the 1914-18 war Mr. Reeves served with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade in Egypt and France, rising to the rank of captain. He was wounded and gassed and in 1917 was awarded the Military Cross. He returned to New Zealand but soon afterwards went back to his Battalion in France. After the war he was one of the officers especially selected for appointment to the N.Z. Staff Corps, in which he served at General H.Q. and as Adjutant of the Wellington Regiment. In 1922 Mr. Reeves designed from the Staff Corps, having decided to enter the business world, and founded the firms of Eric Reeves & Co., and the Reeves Jones Agency. At present he is in business in the Hutt Valley and is a member of the executive of the Hutt Valley Master Bakers’, Association and is also a member of the Master Grocers’ Association. . In 1937-8 Mr. Reeves was chairman for New Zealand of the committee foil the relief of ( Spanish children, which succeeded in. raising about £SOOO for the relief of children on both sides during the Spanish civil war. Dominion Organiser In 1938 he was appointed Dominion VOrganiser for the New Zealand Defence League, which did much good work prior to the last war in educating public opinion in favour of compulsory training. On the outbreak. of war in 19*39 Mr. Reeves again offered his services, but was considered unfit for overseas service. He was appointed Area Staff Officer in Wellington in the rank of Major. He later served as Camp Commandant at Dannevirke and in other capacities at Army H.Q. and in Central District until he resumed business in 194 4.

Mr. Reeves has always been identified with sport, more particularly lawn tennis, on both the active and the administrative sides. He is at present a member of the executive of the Hutt Valley Lawn Tennis Association and is president of the Umpires’ .Association. Mr. Reeves was for many years a member of the Councils of the New Zealand and Wellington Lawn Tennis Associations and chaihman of the Wellington Umpires’ Association.