HONEY PRICES INCREASE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25377, 27 December 1947, Page 6

HONEY PRICES INCREASE

PRODUCERS PLEASED WITH SCHEDULE

The first increase in honey prices approved by the Price Tribunal since 1939 had given great satisfaction to the industry, said Mr T. E. Pearson, of Darfield, president of the Canterbury branch of the National Beekeepers’ Association, last evening. The new order would mean an average increase of about 2£d per lb to producers, he said, and consumers were to be charged about 3£d per lb extra by retailers, the margins varying with grades and containers.

Maintenance of production had become very difficult, Mr Pearson said. He did not know of any producers being forced out of business and there were still men desiring to enter the industry; but there was great difficulty in securing a sufficient return to offer assistants attractive wages. The National Beekeepers’ Association had presented a strong case for increased prides to the tribunal in October and the new order was the direct result. The price order, gazetted last week, which fixes the price of bulk honey sold by producers to anyone, at 10jd per lb, also fixes the maximum price that may be charged by a retailer, including a producer, to a consumer at Is 5Ad per lb carton, 9d per jib carton, Is 7Jd per lb glass jar, and Is B|d for lb tins. For 21b jars the price is 2s lOd, 21b cartons will be sold at 2s B£d, and 21b tins at 2s Hid. Five and 101 b tins of honey will be sold at 7s Ojd and 13s lid.