BEEKEEPERS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16547, 12 June 1919, Page 8

BEEKEEPERS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. (PJBESS ASSOCIATION TEI.KGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June 11. Tho sixth annual conieicncc of Uio National (Beokoopers' Association opened to-day. Thero vfas an attendance of about eighty delegates. Mr W. Barker, president o£ tho Association, was in the chair. v Dr. Beakcs Director of Agriculture, said that at the Kuakawa Farm a number of. returned soldiers were learning the industry. A great deal of experimental work had been carried out at liuakura. At the Tuuranga Farm there was a queen bee rearing apiary, and the farm had mado rapid progress. In regard to the export trade, l>r. Beakes said that during tho war it had shown an exceptional profit. Ho did not think the produoera need fear a very great drop in prioea so long as' tho present high standard of honey wao maintained. Tho weight end value of the honey exports for the years 131S to 1910 wero:— Cwt; Value. £ laiS .. Usfl 4,763 1916 ~ 2390 6,067 1917 .. 1672 8,554 1918 .. 0818 7,991 1919 . 6619 82,019 Dr. Keakea advised that while ervery effort should bo made to foster the export trado, tho interests of the homo consumer should bo looked after, and good quality honey should bo supplied to the New Zealand buyer at ft fair and honest prioe. _ Considerable discussion took place on the question of tho desirableness of seeking legislation defining apiary boundaries, and ft committee was set up to wait upon tho proper Government authority for the purpose of discussing regulations on which to base a Bill to bo introduced into Parliament. It was decided, to urge tho Department of Agriculture to conduct a seriee of experiments in the treatment of honey. The conference continues to-moxww#