VALEDICTORY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 76, 22 December 1928, Page 10

VALEDICTORY

FAREWELL TO MR. W. D. STEWART A RESPECTED CHIEF The staff of Messrs. Dnlgety and Co., Ltd., assembled at the head office in Wellington on Thursday to bid farewell to Mr. W. D. Stewart, formerly superintendent in New Zealand, who left for Sydney that day to take up his new post as Australian superintendent of the company. Mr. W, S. Bennett, the newly-appointed superintendent in New Zealand, presided, and the managers of all the branches of Dalgety and Co. in the Dominion were in attendance.

Mr. Bennett, in asking Mr. Stewart to accept a portrait of oils of himself, said that it was with profound regret that the staff was severing the tie which had bound them to their revered chief during the past 12 years. Mr. Stewart, he said, had been 27 years in the company, and his career had been outstandingly successful, not only in administration but in his relation with his staff. The result had been, said Mr. Bennett, that the company now had a loyal, devoted, and energetic staff in the Dominion. Although Mr. Stewart had expressed his desire to leave New Zealand without ceremony, yet the staff was unanimous in its wish to convey to him some expression of its esteem, some recognition of the kindly consideration it had always received from Mr. Stewart. ,f No chief could have been closer to his staff than you have been,” Mr. Bennett continued.

Mr. J. G. Herdman (Christchurch) joined in the felicitations to Mr. Steward and expressed the keen regret at his departure from New Zealand that was felt by Dalgety’s clientele in Canterbury. Mr. Herman stressed the kindly consideration always shown to his staff by Mr. Stewart, who would carry away with him their best wishes and highest regard. Mr. Stewart, in returning thanks, said it had always been his ambition to get to know and to take a personal interest in the staff. He had been long enough in the company to know how solicitous it was for its staff throughout the whole service. "I am leaving New Zealand,” he said, “with great regret. lam very proud of the staff in the Dominion because it is pervaded with a spirit that it is most delightful to recognise.” He thanked the managers and members of the staff at all centres in New Zealand for the portrait, a gift which would always be appreciated by himself and his family, and which would ever remind him of his happy relations with the staff in New Zealand.

A presentation of a handsome leather hat case was made to Mrs. Stewart.

After the presentation, Mr. Herdman congratulated Mr. Bennett on his promotion to succeed Mr. Stewart, and assured him of the loyalty of the staff throughout New Zealand. He was sure Mr. Bennett would uphold the high traditions of the house of Dalgety in New Zealand. Mr. A. W. Perkin, of Auckland, added his congratulations and pledged the supjiort of the staff to its new chief.

Mr. Bennett said he greatly appreciated the wishes of the staff in Ills difficult task of following such an administrator as Mr. Stewart, but be would do his best, and he hoped that the existing good feeling throughout the service in New Zealand would Lie perpetuated. Mr. Stewart congratulated Mr. J. B. Moodie on his appointment as submanager at Wellington.