Ted Keating

Ted Keating CMG
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Hastings
In office 13 November 1954 – 26 November 1960
Preceded by	Sydney Jones
Succeeded by	Duncan MacIntyre
Personal details
Born	(1910-10-29)29 October 1910 Aldershot, England
Died	22 October 1987(1987-10-22) (aged 76) Auckland, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Rita Wigg ​ (m. 1948)​
Children	5
Alma mater	University of Auckland

Edwin Joseph Keating CMG (29 October 1910 – 22 October 1987) was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for the Labour Party, academic and director of the Bank of New Zealand.

Biography

Early life and career

Keating was born in Aldershot, England, in 1910 and arrived in New Zealand in 1926 alongside family members. He found employment with the New Zealand Post Office and attended the University of Auckland part-time, eventually graduating with a master of arts majoring in history.

He married Marguerita Mary (Rita) Wigg in Dunedin on 29 March 1948 with whom he had four sons and one daughter.

He was Vice-President of the New Zealand Post Office Association from 1949 to 1954 and a member of the Post Office Promotion Board from 1950 to 1954. He was a member of the Government Superannuation Board from 1948 to 1953.

Political career

New Zealand Parliament

Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1954–1957	31st	Hastings			Labour
1957–1960	32nd	Hastings			Labour

At the 1953 local-body elections he stood unsuccessfully for the Wellington Harbour Board on the Labour Party ticket.

Keating represented the Hastings electorate from 1954 to 1960, when he was defeated by National's Duncan MacIntyre. He attempted to regain the seat in 1963, but was unsuccessful. Keating was thought of as a potential cabinet member at the formation of the Second Labour Government. The press thought him the most qualified member of the Labour caucus for the position of Postmaster-General due to his work experience prior to entering Parliament. However he was not selected for cabinet and remained a backbencher. For the duration of the government Keating defended the government's record and countered attacks from the opposition regarding taxation levels. He particularly highlighted the success of the introduction of the Pay-as-you-earn tax (PAYE) as an improvement to the tax system in place prior to Labour taking office.

He was a member of the Labour Party's national executive from 1957 to 1960 and chairman of the Wellington Labour Party Division from 1968 to 1975. In 1969 Keating stood for the vice-presidency of the Labour Party. He gained minimal support with only 2 delegates voting for him in the ballot.

Later career

After politics he became a tutor and senior lecturer in industrial relations at Victoria University of Wellington. Keating also served as a director of the Bank of New Zealand from 1975 to 1987. He had previously been a member of the bank's housing allocation committee from 1947 to 1960.

In the 1986 Queen's Birthday Honours, Keating was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, for public and community services.

Death

He died in 1987 in Wellington a week before his 77th birthday after a lengthy illness. He was survived by his wife, five children and three grandchildren.

References

• Logan, Mary (2008) [First ed. published 2008]. Nordy, Arnold Nordmeyer a political biography (1 ed.). Wellington: Steele Roberts Publishers. ISBN 978-1-877448-33-1.
• Taylor, Alister (1999). The Australian Roll of Honour: Honoured by the Queen 1952-1998. Alister Taylor. ISBN 9780908578740.
• Traue, James Edward (1978). Who's Who in New Zealand, 1978 (11th ed.). Wellington: Reed Publishing.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.