HONEY TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 203, 28 August 1935, Page 12

HONEY TRADE.

PROBLEMS OF MARKETING. CONTROL BOARD WANTED. Strong support has been found for the petition at present being- circulated throughout the Dominion urging the Executive Commission of Agriculture to delegate to the beekeepers of the country the full power necessary for the control of the sale of honey on the export and local markets. It is estimated that up to the present beekeepers representing some 55.000 hives have signed the petition. In some areas this represents nearly 90 per cent of the total registered' hives. Mr. Wallace Nelson, of Otorohanga, the chairman of New Zealand Honey, Ltd.. has just concluded a six wceks'"tour of the Dominion in support of the new marketing proposals.

A resolution supporting the demand for control of the sale of honey on the local market was carried unanimously at meetings of beekeepers held in Taranaki, Palmerston North, Hastings, Masterton, Nelson, Timarti. Oamaru, Dtincdin, Gore, Waikato, Invercargill, Auckland and at the recent conference of the National Beekeepers' Association in Hamilton. Tn the course of his various addresses, Mr. Nelson has pointed out that under existing conditions competitive selling by producers not only resulted in unpayable returns but what was equally important, honey in an unpalatable condition, varying greatly in quality and sold under misleading labels, seriously discouraged consumption. An obvious advantage would be the passage of legislation that would ensure the consumer a consistently reliable article, correctly labelled and sold at a stabilised price. Under existing conditions, Mr. Nelson contended, the production of honey could never be anything but a highly speculative, venture. The proposed Honey Control Board would direct and manage both export and home marketing in place of the present Honey Export Control Board. Revenue for the board would be provided by levies on the honey sold and thus afford a fund for advertising and advancing the use of honev as an article of diet.