HONEY PRICES

Grey River Argus, 3 April 1943, Page 2

HONEY PRICES

FURTHER STATEMENT BY MINISTER. P.A. WELLINGTON, April 2. “The Government’s stabilisation ptan has been fully observed in the price arrangement made for the purchase of honey during the present season,” said the Minister of Marketing (Mr. Barclay;) to-night. “Honey was of the original thirty-eight stabilised lines announced in 1940, and, after very careful examination of the average returns secured by producers throughout the Dominion it was decided that the price's finally announced by the Price Tribunal were air and reasonable. In the case of the South Island honey producers the price payable by the Department for this honey in bulk is approximately 6.73 d per lb. not 51d as quoted by several members of the Canterbury, branch of the National Beekeepers’ Association. In the case of honey packed by producers on behalf of the Department, payment equivalent to 5.97 d will be made. The Department will also meet the cost of the levy stamp, equivalent to a further halfpenny per lb. If producers have I been 'securing prices exceeding the price order level during the past year, they have virtually been operating on a-black market or have been - securing particular market prefer- : ences not available to producers genI erally. ; “As I previously stated; the community as a whole have definite rights'in this matter. Through the Government they have supported the beekeepers with special preferences as regards to sugar, tyres, benzine, and manpower, and they are entitled to’ receive their share of the honey crop after priorities have been met, at prices which are reasonable and at the same time fair to the grower.”