HONEY PRODUCTION

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 182, 30 April 1931, Page 2

HONEY PRODUCTION

Progress of Industry v LOWER OUTPUT THIS YEAR Honey production in New Zealand is au industry that in recent years has made considerable progress, partly due to the control that has been set up, and partly to the elimination of those using out-of-date methods. In 1929-30 the export quantity was 1100 tons, compared with au ■average of about 500 tons over the six preceding years. This season, which ends in July, has been an unfavourable one on account of the weather, and it is estimated that' the exports will not exceed 500 tons. t In 1927 the Apiaries Act was amended, provision being made for the registration of all apiaries, arid in the following year beekeepers were called upon to register. In 1928 there were 5992 apiaries and 96,-' 103 colonies or hives. In 1929 the figures bad increased by 700 and 6270 respectively. The last, figures available are for the year ended March 31, 1930, when the number of apiaries was 6925 and of hives 102,418. Prior to the amendment of the law, triennial registration was in force, and this enabled the Department of Agriculture to secure figures of production, export, etc. Re-registration is not now required, with the result that statistics

for the last two years have not been forthcoming. Calculations have to be based on the new registrations since 1928. It has been estimated by experts that the amount for export this year will not exceed 500 tons, and that the normal production for a season, 3000 tons, will be reduced by half. It is said that about twothirds of the honey produced is consumed within the Dominion at an average rate of about 41If. a head of the population. The export value ranges from about £6O to £75 a ton, according to quality. Clover honey commands the highest prices. The principal honey-production districts are Waikato, Taranaki, and Wairarapa in the North Island, and Canterbury, Otago, and Southland in the South Island. Probably'few farmers fully appreciate the value of bees for. apollination purposes, especially for clover and fruit orchards. It is on record that a farmer in the South Island induced a neighbouring beekeeper to establish fifty hives near his clover crop, providing him with a site free, and paying him a bonus of £5O, or £1 a hive, in addition to which the apiarist had all the returns from the hives. In Hawke’s Bay orehardists have taken similar action in order to get the valuable services of tho bees for apollination purposes. If beekeeping was not carried on in New Zealand, it would mean the loss of about £lBO,OOO a year.