BEEKEEPING INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 223, 14 June 1919, Page 11

BEEKEEPING INDUSTRY

CONCLUDING SITTING OF CONFERENCE

FREIGHT CHARGES ON HONEY

Tho sixth annual conference of tho National Beekeepers' Association of Now Zealand was concluded yesterday the president (Mr. W. E. Barker) presiding. Tho matter of freight charges on noney was introduced by Air. ]?. C. Buines, who moved the following motion: "That a deputation wait on tho Minister of Kailways to draw his attention to the unfair handicap placed on tho industry by the present' freight" charges on honey, and ask' him that honey be 'placed in a schedule not higher than, butter." Tho speaker said that honey was unfairly handicapped, and lie strongly urged u ' revision of tariff. Ho understood that, tlio reclassificatioii of freight charges was under'consideration. To illustrate' his point the speaker cited a case where an orchardist was consigning cases of fruit and the freight on a case weighing 5611). was 7d., whereas the freight on a case of honey weighing'37lb. was Gs. Gd. ■ As to- the' question of freight on largo qnantitios compared with butter, the pre-war tariff was that honey wns charged about one-third more. Other delegates epoko in a similar strain, and the motion was carried unanimously. ■

Economy in Beekeeping.. An interesting paper on "Economy in Beekeeping" was read by Mr. J. O. Hobte, who said .that the high price ot materials at the .present time required every beekeeper to practise rigid economy, oven though .ho was getting an advanced price. on his honey. As to tho question of,hive construction, he had found that the best supers were made from, bidfashioned, stout, benzine cases, but the present-day cases were rather slight tor the purpose. Ho considered that tho top and bottom rabbeting of the edges ot supers .was. not ..only unnecessary, but a, decided disadvantage. They were most difficult to fit, and the edges were very 'easily.broken off, thus causing undesirable entrances.all about tho hives, permitting the bees to attack the operator unawares. If the use of rabbets were dropped, it would, in his opinion, save, the beekeepers of New Zealand collectively hundreds of ■ pounds in hive and materials, . and their absence would be, a factor in making .the hives moro durable. .The application of paint and oil would lesult in. the hives, lasting three times as long. The speaker went on to deal generally with the constructive parts of the hives, andpointed out where economy could be effected without detriment to the industry. He was accorded a hearty.vote .of thanks for his.address.■•.. . ' Half-Depth Supers Advocated. In an address on the use of half-depth supers,, Mr. E. Simpson 'admitted- that the use of the'half super to 6onie beekeepers at least was looked upon 'as any-, thing but desirable Nvlien'running-.' for extracted honey. '.Half sufiDrs '• *ere a. great advantage during bad weather, ana were even a greater' advantage when added in fine weather; as the beesstored in them quicker. The Speaker went ,on to explain their Wand advantages gener-> ally, concluding-by saying that'he had no hesitation in recommending'to the beginner the tho half super. ' ■ ■■•

' Appointment of Chief .Apiarist. The following -motion- urging the appointment of a chief apiarist was moved by Mr. J. B. Adams (Gisborne), and carried unanimously: "That the appointment'of a chief apiarist bo again brought before the Minister of, Agriculture, and that the , matter be pressed that he make the.appointment, as promised by him, at an iearly date, the officer appointed, to bo responsible-for the proper enforcer ment of the Apiaries Act." • ■ ■. ■ Penalties Under Apiaries Act, . The question of penalties, for ■ breaches of. the Apiaries Act was discussed at some length, and. it was . the unanimous opinion of delegates that the fines imSosed were too'small.. On the motion ot [r. J. 13. Adams (Gisborne) the following motion was carried: "That'the penalty for breaches of the, Apiaries Act 1)6 increased; the maximum'. penalty".'be raised-to £20." ■■''<„ .. ..-,',- ... -.'•"'.,:;'", ". '■'' Registration of' Apiaries. .: .. Mr. J. B. Adams, on behalf of the Poverty Bay Association, moved the following resolution: "That all apiaries bo registered annually, and that provision be made for and the enforcing of a subj stantial' penalty for failure to register. Mr. T. W. Kirk. said.,that it was impossible for the Depattlnerit'to have tho apiaries registered annually with, . tho present staff. There were about five thousand registered beekeepers in ' New Zealand, and he understood that there were about three '-thousand -unregistered beekeepers. In-his opinion' it was unnecessary to have apiaries registered annu. ally. After some further discussion the resolution , was carried. Depot System of Handling Honey. In introducing the subject of tho depot system of handling honey, Mr. J. Allen 'stated'that the time was not far ■ oftwhe'ii the honey would bo disposed or through a central depot. Ho-foreshadow, ed, that tho honey would bo .railed from the apiaries in specially-made cans to tho depot, where samples would . : - be taken and the different grades 'woiild be run oft'- into huge vats, : whero the- honey would be mixed' on the Same principle as milk. Later it would be- run off into cans or tins for export. Such,a depot and system generally would directly benefit the beekeeping ■ industry. He .moved the following motions, which were carried unanimously: "(1) That tho Department be asked ;-to frame a Honey Industries 'A'ct o)i similar lines to the Fruit Industries Act, so as to aid the industry in the erection of depots and othenviso financially." "(2) -That it be- a recom. mendation to the Honey Producers' Association .to inquire into tho. depot sys; tern, aiid if possible, in connection witn tho establishment of a'depot for local supplies in the South Island, to approach the matter in an experimental way." Election . of. Officers. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. J. Allen; vice-president, llr. W. Watson; executive, Messrs. A. H. Davis, J. D. Adams, R. M'Knight, 3. Cotteroll, R. H, Penny; secretary; ana editor of "Journal," Mr. 1\ C. Baines. Other Business. ■ A resolution moved by Mr.'W. B. Bray, that tlio Government'be urged to reduce the import duty on hives, was lost on tho voices. He further moved that the Government bo urged to remove the import duty on timber for hive-making. This was carried. • ' Messrs. J. Rentoul, W. Watson, and C. I l '. Ryland were appointed a deputation to wait on tho Minister of Agriculture and place before' him' the resolutions' passed at the conference. Upon tho motion of Mr. J. ' Rentoul, seconded by Mr.-F.~C. Baines, it-was decided to hold a special show of honey at the next conference, all exhibits to be in churgo of- tho Honey Producers' Association. .-.-,. i. | A hearty vote of thanks was accorded i to tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G.Vj and the Mayoress for tho hospitality they j had shown the delegates. i ' A vote of thanks to the retiring presi- ] dent, earned by acclamation, concluded | tho business of the conference. I