Control of Honey Industry

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 275, 16 August 1932, Page 11

Control of Honey Industry

Sir,—Mr. Y. H. Benton, tn the isstlß oi “The Dominion” of August 6, writes at length regarding the marketing of honey. Mr. Benton’s letter is_illogical and- inaccurate, and were it not that his statement* may be accepted by. those of the publie who are not well informed in matters pertaining to the honey industry, I would not have written this reply. Mr. Benton asks why it was necessary for a deputation of honey producers to wait upon the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. C. E. Macmillan, and voice warm support of the operation* of the Honey Export Control Board. The reason was because, at the instance of an Auckland firm, a request was presented to the Minister asking that the operations of the Honey Export Control Board should be opened to public review. Apart from the gross impertinence of this request, it had been openly boasted that the influence behind the request would force the Minister’s hands and result in the abolition of the board. This impudent request and the boast were warmly resented by producers, and hence their deputation. It was stated at the interview that the Minister, on receipt of the request, ordered a report from his officers upon the operations of the board. This report had borne out most definitely the.claims and contentions of the deputation. Result, the promised support of the Minister in protection of the board, which honey producers deeply appreciate. The £45,000 spent in advertising covers the whole of the advertising expenditure over a number of years. The better prices secured by the advertising has paid the whole of the cost, so that it has not been a charge on the producer, and has made New Zealand honey the most prominent honey in the United Kingdom. This expenditure in advertising benefited the whole of the primary producers of the Dominion. The Canadians have resolved to adopt our measures and methods of advertising honey. It has been stated by independent observers (entirely unsolicited) that honey was the best advertised Dominion product abroad. •To-day we possess an overseas asset in goodwill worth at least £lO,OOO. • To sell our honey in bulk on the open market would mean the acceptance of a gross price of 2ld. to 3}d. per lb. As it is, the goodwill created by the advertising enables the securing of a net price of 4d. to sd. per lb. for an average export. Our sales are increasing steadily, despite unfavourable economic conditions, and an enlarged future outlet for increased exports of honey is being secured on sound business lines. Mr. Benton is entirely astray in stating that the National Beekeepers’ Association is taking further steps in the matter of the proposed Honey Local Marketing Art. This has been deferred indefinitely. A number of large honey producers met in Wellington last month, and, after prolonged and serious deliberation, decided unanimously that, as the N.Z. Honey Producers’ Association had decided to go into voluntary liquidation, a new co-operative marketing company be formed with the object of stabilising returns to producers by the organisation of honey marketing. The proposals for this new company were formulated with the aid of the advice of several of the ablest business men. in the Dominion, and the proposals appealed to producers so strongly that signatures from producers who themselves •produce a total of over 600 tons of honey were given at the meeting. This as a start was a signal triumph; and almost every day letters and reports continue to come in promising further liberal support from producers. The proposed new company is purely * voluntary one, and Mr. Benton is at liberty to remain outside.and criticise if he so desires. However, the success of the company’s operations is already assured, and it is hoped by results to induce Mr. Benton and any other over-cautious producers to eventually become active supporters. Thanking you for yourgenerosity during our conference in Wellington, and for the opportunity of this reply.—l am. P. A. HILLARY, President National Beekeepers’ Association of N.Z. Tuakau, August 13.