He joined the NZEF as a Rifleman then Sergeant (No 12356) in World War I, and was awarded the Military Medal for bravery.

In this position he actively assisted returned servicemen and local Māori in becoming farmers.

[4] He was a self described militarist and supported compulsory military training, an issue to which most Labour members were opposed.

[5] After leaving Parliament he resumed farming and became a business partner of Sir James Wattie, producing many of the fruit and vegetables that were processed at the Wattie's cannery.

This article about a New Zealand Labour Party politician is a stub.