SHORT SUPPLIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1937, Page 24

SHORT SUPPLIES

EXPORT OF HONEY

AUSTRALIAN PURCHASE

Alleged importations of honey from Australia for blending with New Zealand honey for export were discussed by beekeepers yesterday afternoon at the annual conference of the National Beekeepers' Association, when the chairman of the Honey Control Board (Mr. J. R. Butland) explained the position. New Zealand obtained the highest price for honey imported into England, he said, and to maintain that market for the surplus of the New Zealand crop a regular supply had to be kept up. A market had been built up for white honey and dark honey, and 100 tons of Australian honey had been purchased to supply part of the dark honey required to fulfil contracts. There was still a serious shortage of both white and dark honey, and if honey could not be secured the position of New Zealand honey on the British market would be endangered. The Australian honey had not come into New Zealand except for transshipment. Mr. Butland said the market in London had been developed to absorb the surplus left after the local market had been supplied. Bulk honey had to meet intense competition on the English market, and the object of the board had been to increase the sales of pack honey and reduce the sale of bulk honey. The amount of honey exported was not the important point to producers; what concerned them was the annual net sales. The highest export total had been in 1928, but the sales in 1936 had been higher by over 30 tons. The activities of the board had led to an increase in pack sales, the increase in January and February of this year being 50 per cent, on the sales during the correspqpding period in 1936. The board had also concentrated on getting shipping charges reduced and the reduction secured would mean a saving of approximately £500 on the year's export. MARKET DEMANDS. The board had created a market in Britain for .both Imperial Bee pack and dark honeys. Contracts had been secured and had to be supplied, but the supplies in view were inadequate. Only 100 tons had been received to supply requirements amounting to 750 tons. The country had been flooded with misleading statements about Australian honey. The board had been forced to find honey to fill its contracts, because without honey the board would have failed. The board could j have waited for some wise apiarists! to import Australian honey, blend it with their own, send it to the board, and pocket the profit. However, the board decided that if any profit was made it should be for the benefit of beekeepers generally. One hundred tons of honey were bought in Australia and an option was secured over a further supply, but that option had not been taken up. Not a pound of that honey had been put on the New Zealand market, although it had been shipped to Britain through New Zealand for economy reasons. The honey was never ". bought to Dut into Imperial Bee pack or to be sold as New Zealand honey, and the board's agents had been instructed accordingly. New Zealand honey on the British market had a prestige that no other honey held and any shortage of supply would have an effect on sales. If more honey could not be secured in New Zealand the Imperial Bee honey would have to go off the British market. If that happened the good will of the British buyers would be" lost and if there was a big crop next year, what would they do with the surplus?

Mr. L. F. Robins, who presided, asked for a motion indicating the association's attitude to the actions of the board.

Mr. Irwin moved that the association had complete confidence in the board and endorsed the action taken by the board when Australian honey was purchased: to fulfil contracts. This was seconded, and a discussion followed as to whether or not nonmembers of the association should have the right to speak-to the motion. Eventually the motion was suspended, and it was agreed that both delegates and visitors could discuss the matter.

Numerous questions were then put to Mr. Butland and ' after these had beeri answered-the motion was carried without. dissent.