Keating was born in Aldershot, England, in 1910[1] 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.
[3] At the 1953 local-body elections he stood unsuccessfully for the Wellington Harbour Board on the Labour Party ticket.
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.
[8] After politics he became a tutor and senior lecturer in industrial relations at Victoria University of Wellington.