PLENTY OF MONEY IN TAURANGA

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14711, 1 July 1948, Page 2

PLENTY OF MONEY IN TAURANGA

GOOD SEASON FOR BEEKEEPERS

INCREASE IN NUMBER OF APIARISTS

Commenting on a report from Wellington that more honey would be seen in shops this year because the crop increase was ever 1,000 tons on last year, a Tauranga grocer said recently that, ample supplies of honey were already available. Although the position had not been quite as good last year, there had been no serious shortage. The actual production figures are: This year, 4,750 tons; last year, 3,700 tons. Conditions in spring and early summer were favourable for beekeeping in most parts of New Zealand this season. Results were disappointing in the Hawke’s Bay, Palmerston North, and Central

Otago districts, where pastures dried up early and did not recover in time to permit normal honey production. Statistics compiled by the Department of Agriculture show that there has been a sharp increase in the number of hives kept by beekeepers since the war. Apiary work has appealed to a number of ex-service-men, who have been rehabilitated into the beekeeping industry in various parts of the Dominion. There are now 7,285 registered beekeepers, operating 11,386 apiaries with 154,488 colonies of bees, compared with 5.248 registered beekeepers, controlling 13(3 302 hives, in 1940.