CONTROL OF HONEY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 51, 28 August 1926, Page 15

CONTROL OF HONEY

MINISTERIAL INQUIRY WANTED.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, 27th August.

A request for a thorough, investigation of the working of the Honey Control Board has been made to the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. O. J. Hawken) by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Following on representations on the subject from-the Westland Chamber of Commerce, the council had inquiries made, and at its last meeting decided to accord its support to the demand for inquiry. The attention of the Minister has been drawn to the subject iv the following letter:— "It has been brought to the notice of this chamber that although the sum of Id a pound is levied by the Honey Control Board on account of advertising, this money has clearly not been spent to advantage, as is shown by the fact that at various times very large stocks of honey have been held in London, amounting apparently at one time during the past twelve months to as much as twice the annual turnover. Approximately 6 per cent, of the turnover at the same time appears to be absorbed in interest charges incurred on account of past losses. Furthermore, the accounts of the Control Board are presented in such a way and are apparently bo interrelated with those of the jSTew Zealand Honey Producers' Association, that it seems impossible for interested persons outside of that association to ascertain the real position."

The letter adds that in view of these facts the chamber feels justified in directing the notice of the Minister to the matter and urging that he should have the position investigated, with particular attention as to whether the Control Board is really satisfactorily fulfilling the objects for which it was set up.