THE WEDDEL CUP.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5138, 13 June 1927, Page 1

THE WEDDEL CUP.

PRESENTATION TO WINNER. NGATEA’S PROUD POSITION. The greatest honour that ca.n be earned in the dairying industry of this country is to become the possessor of the Weddel Cup, which is ottered for the highest-graded butter for export over the period from August 1 to April 31. This trophy is more sought after by dairy factories than even the New Zealand championship, and the competition for it is naturally exceedingly keen. This year the cup lias been won by the Ngatea factory of the N.Z. Cooperative Dairy Co., the manager of which is Mr C. H. Foster.. This factory also won the championship of New Zealand for the best box of butter, open to all, taken ha.phazardlj from the stocks in cool store, as well as the provincial championship for the best box of export butter.

At Hamilton last week, at the company’s board-room (states the Waikato Times), Mr Foster was the chief guest at a special gathering of factory managers, when he was presented with a silver replica of the Weddel Cup, which has been provided by his company to be held for competition within the company. This special trophy, which is of substantial size, will be retained by the winner, of the Weddel Cup until some other factory wrests away the honour.

The presentation was made by the chairman of directors of the company, Mr Dynes Fulton. Referring to the success of the Ngatea factory in winning the Weddel Cup and the Dominion and provincial championships, Mr Fulton said that the last time the Weddel Cup was won by the company was in the- days of the old N.Z. Dairy Association, when Mr T. Y. Kirkman, the present factory superintendent, became the. possessor. It must not be overlooked that the Ngatea factory was a large concern’ which turned out 62,072 boxes of butter from August 1 to April 31. and that to maintain the highest gra.de for the whole of its output over all those months was no small achievement. The winning butter was not specially made f7n- show purposes, but was the ordinary every-day produce of the factory.

On behalf of the directors Mr H. H. Sterling, general manager, presented Mr Foster with a. gold medal, suitably inscribed, as a personal memento of his achievement. In handing the medal to Mr Foster Mr Sterling asked him to accept it as a tribute from the- directors to the work he personally had done. They were confident that he and his staff would continue to maintain the very high standard which they had set. (Applause.)

In reply Mr Foster, who was greeted with loud applause, said that while the honour of winning this coveted trophy gave him more pleasure than he could express, he was yet frankly surprised at the result. His suppliers, his staff, and he had certainly ben thriving very hard to win the cup, and while they had hoped to secure it, they yet hardly dared to hope. He was pleased to hear the comments on team work, for without the full and enthusiastic co-operation of the suppliers and his staff he; could not possibly have achieved the results he had. The speaker paid a tribute to the company’s graders, Messrs Reekie and Deed, and also to Mr Missen, adding that if ever a reasonable arrangement sould be put forward for anything that was calculated to raise the- quality there was never any trouble in getting assistance. (Applause.) The speaker said he treasured the Weddel Cup far more than either the New Ze-a.land or Provincial Championships. He thanked all present for their kindness, and said that while he hoped the cup would go round the company’s factories, he would with his suppliers and staff, do his utmost to keep it at Ngatea.