HONEY INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 9, 11 July 1934, Page 4

HONEY INDUSTRY

DISAPPOINTING SEASON

NEW GRADING SYSTEM

From a honey-producing point of view the past; season had been somewhat disappointing, stated the Hon. C. E. Maemillari (Minister of Agriculture) when opening " the twenty-first annual conference of the National Beekeepers' Association ■of New Zealand yesterday afternoon. . ■ ' - The Minister said that the adverse weather conditions resulted in the crop being patchy and well below normal in the more favoured districts. Altogether, the season vwas most disappointing, as many beekeepers wore looking forward to normal crops to nieetvtke extra liabilities imposed ,on them through the collapse of the New Zealand Honey Producers' Association. The production side of the industry was making steady, progress, and /beekeepers were' increasing their holdings, said the Minister. He was pleased to see that-active steps had been taken in the formation of a; co-operative company for the local marketing of honey. - The: company had started operations and' he was informed that already its activities had had a beneficial effect in stabilising prices among its members. .During the present honey export season a definite move had, been made by the Honey; Control Board to tighten up the system of grading honey for export. At the request of the board this season all honey for export had been graded under new standards fixed by the board in conformity with its powers under the Honey Export Control Act. While it was early to forecast the effect of^ the new grading systemj it, was clear that it would have the effect of eliminating the low grades of honey previously sent forward by. beekeepers, for export. In support of the movement to' maintain the high position New Zealand honey JirtH in the English market, quality must count, and unless the 'beekeepers supported their board, by offering the: best qualities of honey- for export, the board could not maintain overseas sales. NEED TOR CAUTION. ; In his address, the president, Mr. 'C. A. Pope* (Canterbury), said that there were many matters concerned with the industry that would make or mai'.the association. They hadcome to a-time when every. effort must > be made'to make the association'; &:> live concern. • For twenty-one1 years' the asso.ciatipn had-..functioned as the mouthpiece.;''ofyjeekeepers.'in the Dof: minion. ' The/association , was the' only ,pno recognised.'in the.Dominion,; and when it made jany, requests, to; Parliament they were accepted as the wishes of beekeepers as a whole. "Thepresent year,'.' said Mr. Pope, ''is one when we will have to walk .carefully. The hearts of beekeepers are not beating as . strongly as. they should -be-' cause of the number of imperfect seasons in the past, particularly in Canterbury. The prospects in Canterbury, however, are much better, and I hope that, throughout the Dominion, /crops will be better, prices stabilised, and an impetus given to the iiidustry-gen-erally." ' -, ... •■ •; ":'.-. The annual report- aiicl balance-sheet were adopted. • .. ■ ■ .■■'..' ■ ; LOCAL CONTROL,, . i ■■■ The following Southland remit pro-' yoked a- good. = deal of discussion:.— '' That the Southland branch: expresses appreciation of thework done and the success attended' by operations ■of New Zealand Honey, Ltd., and that the conference urges the Government to bring down legislation empowering the Control Board to regulate, prices in New Zealand." ' ' The remit was carried, as was also the following two dealing with the same, subject:— "That this branch approves the principle of local control as being the best means of organising the industry (Canterbury). "This branch supports any endeavour made by the conference: to stabilise the price of honey on the local market" (South ■ Canterbury.); . ■ It was also decided that the president and Mr. Irwin be a committee to confer with the Honey Control Board on the matter. The following remits were also carried:— "That the Government be requested to have the word 'honeymead' inserted in the, Licensing. Act." ' . "That this conference expresses its disapproval of beekeeping in primary schools for the following reasons:—=-(1) The grave danger of spreading' foul brood owing to the increased number of inefficient beekeepers at a time when inspection work has been retrenched; and (2) the. impossibility of the ■ instructors being able:to. do their inspee-' tioa work thoroughly with this additional burden." The following amendment to the constitution was agreed upon:—Clauso 5. \ il Junior members'may be admitted to membership of the association on, payment of an.annual subscription of--2s 6d. Such members' shall, not^be entitled to vote.at meetings, nor shall they be entitled to tho benefits of the No. 2 Trust Pund."