William Pember Reeves

The Long White Cloud (Illustrated Edition) (Dodo Press) William Pember Reeves Illustrated edition

The Hon. William Pember Reeves (1857-1932) was a New Zealand statesman, historian and poet, who promoted social reform. He was educated at a private "prep" school in Christchurch, the local high school, and (1867-74) the Christ's College Grammar School. Before entering politics, Reeves was a lawyer and journalist. He was editor of the Canterbury Times in 1885 and the Lyttelton Times (1889- 1891). He represented the Christchurch seat of St Albans in Parliament from 1887 to 1890, and then Christchurch from 1890 to 1896, when he resigned. He served as Minister of Labour (1891-1896) during John Ballance's premiership. As Minister he introduced the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1894 and the Immigrants Exclusion Bill which barred immigrants from the country. His anti-foreigner stance earned him the nickname 'Undesirable Bill' Reeves. Some of Reeves's more influential writings include his history of New Zealand, The Long White Cloud (1899), and State Experiments in Australia and New Zealand (1902). He also published a number of poems, such as The Passing of the Forest and A Colonist in his Garden.