DAIRY EXPORT COMPETITION

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29250, 7 July 1960, Page 20

DAIRY EXPORT COMPETITION

Harbour Board Trophies “This is a job the board likes, because it realises the prosperity of New Zealand depends on the quality of its exports,” said the chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr A. A. Macfarlane) when trophies won in export produce competitions were presented yesterday. “It is through the producers and the excellent grading .staff that we have such a wonderful name for our produce.” The awards presented were:— Cheese.—Okaihs Bay Co-op. Dairy Co. (Mr W. H. N. Pidgeon manager). Lamb.—Mr A. Zuppicich (Springston). Butter.—Kaikoura Co-op. Dairy Company, Ltd. (Mr D. W. Melville manager). Mr Zuppicich had probably grown the best lambs in the world, said Mr Macfarlane. He wondered whether Mr Zuppicich had ever killed one of his lambs and given it to his friends to eat “as the world’s best lamb.” The board was interested in “all-weather” loading, instituted by Southland, said Mr Macfarlane. It was a question of “keeping up with the Joneses” and it was now up to the Meat Board to say whether it wanted "allweather” loading all over New Zealand or only at some ports. That New Zealand should get the best lamb on to the London market was important. By gaining two prizes in the London competition, Mr Zuppicich had given a wonderful performance, said Mr R. T. McMillan. The combination of Southdown rams and Romney ewes seemed to be “the thing” today. Mr Macfarlane (laughing): Corriedales, too. “They come into the picture, too,” admitted Mr McMillan. Farmers were appreciative of the expansion programme being carried out at Lyttelton by the board, said Mr J. H. Ensor (Agricultural and Pastoral Association). Commenting on the cheese award, Mr - Macfarlane said cheeses had improved "out of all knowledge” in the last 10 years in New Zealand, yet more varieties could be made.