WEST COAST HONEY

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 September 1934, Page 11

WEST COAST HONEY

GRADING METHODS CONDEMNED. Speaking at last evening’s meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council, Cr. F. A. Kitchingham said that he had been requested by the Beekeepeis Association to bring the matter of the grading regulations for honey, before the Council. As. much as £3OOO pei year had been brought to the West Coast by the beekeepers, and the industry was growing under the old grading regulations, Wiest Coast honey having been classed as good as anything produced anywhere in the world. Quite recently, however, the grading regulations were altered, and the result was that West Coast honey was now classed as. practically unfit for export at all. It was a serious thing for the beekeepers, who laid out large sums in connection with the industry. They said that the producers in the clover districts had got control, and were using that control to the detriment of producers in other districts, having had the regulation altered to suit their own districts, irrespective of the quality of the honey in other districts. The state of affairs reminded one of the company affairs that were before the public at present. The Mayor (Mr J. W. Greenslade): Altogether a very sweet affair. Cr. J. S. Robertson: Likely to get stung! Cr. Kitchingham moved that the Council make strong representations to the Government, with a view to having the giading regulations altered, or such other steps taken as were necessary to restore West Coast honey to its rightful place in the market. Cr. J. B. Kent seconded the resolution. It was supported by Cr. R. J. Williams, who said that the tendency was to centralise in Auckland or Wellington, to the detriment of Greymouth. Cr. Robertson said he did not think that the Council had gone far enough. Prior to the formation of the Honey Control Board, there was good revenue coming to the beekeepers, on the West Coast. At present, there were 400 or 500 cases of honey in store at Greymouth, and most of it had not been looked at by the grader. It savoured very much of the Redwood Forests and other companies, the aflairs of which were now being investigated. Cr. F. F. Boustridge said he understood that all the honey exported was graded or reblended in Auckland. It seemed to him to be a “double shuffle” on the part of some parties, to grade their own honey at the highest price. He thought that the Government analyst should be instructed to set a Standard for honey. A body of men in Auckland apparently had the power to grade their own honey as the highest, and that of someone else as the lowest. The Mayoi: In other words, we want protection from a vicious circle! The resolution was approved.