MARKETING OF HONEY

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 28 July 1932, Page 8

MARKETING OF HONEY

PROBLEM FOR PRODUCERS.

CONFIDENCE IN THE BOARD

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 27.

Reference to the problems of marketing confronting the honey producers was made by Mr P. A. Hillary (Tuakau), president,' in opening the - nineteenth conference of the National Beekeepers’ Association of New Zealand. He dealt with the overseas and local markets and spoke of the failure of competitive open marketing, which he said was so serious that beekeepers were almost unanimous in their determination to organise marketing on sound economic lines and to endeavour to stabilise prices at a reasonable payable level.

The economic position had improved, said Mr Hillary. As a result of the shortage of the crop last season nextseason should open without any carryover and with only enough honey overseas to last until the 1933 crop arrived im England. The following motion by' Mr R. A. Nelson (Otorohanga> was carried unanimously: “That this conference of honey-producers expresses its complete confidence in the Export Marketing Board and calls upon the board to exercise its full powers provided by' the Act to protect the overseas market.” A deputation subsequently waited on the Minister of Agriculture (the- Hon. C. E. Macmillan) and placed before him the views of the conference on the marketing question.

SUGAR DUTY FREE,

USE FOR FEEDING BEES. WELLINGTON, July 27. At the conference- of the- National Beekeepers’ Association of New Zealand to-day remits were carried requesting that sugar be supplied duty' free when used for feeding bees ini bad winter seasons, also asking the Government to maintain the number and 1 status of the inspectors and to reinstate a parttime inspection* system as soon as possible. FEARS OF RESTRICTIONS. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. WELLINGTON, July 27. Fears that certain interests would bring pressure to bear upon' the Government to secure the abolition or curtailment of the powers of the Honey Export Control Board were expressed by' a deputation from the Beekeepers’ Association which waited on the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, to-da.y. Agreement with the policy' being followed by' the board was expressed by' speakers, and the Minister gave an assurance that he would watch the interests of the producers. The Minister said he did 1 not think they had reached a stage where they' were discussing the abolition of the board. “The department’s reports bear out what you say with regard to your prices,” he said, “but the department suggests these prices were obtained by an expensive method. A total of £45,000 was spent in advertising. That would not be much if you had plenty' of goods to sell l , but when you have only £50,000 worth, for the sake of argument, it would be too expensive. I realise you have established a good name in Britain and that y'our advertising charges can now be reduced.” The Director-General of Agriculture, Dr. C. «T. Reakes, said Mr Rutland, a member of the board, was at present in London, and he was going closely' into that question with the agents. The Minister said the producers could rest assured that as far as he was concerned he would do everything to help them retain the goodwill and the trade mark they had established in Great Britain. If the board were functioning satisfactorily for the producers it j could not be as bad as some'made out.

APPROVAL OF REBATE. OPINIONS OF MINISTER. WELLINGTON, July 27. Approval of the principle of granting a rebate of the duty on imports of sugar purchased by honey producers solely for the purpose of feeding bees was expressed by the Minister of Agriculturef the Hon. 0. E. Maemillian', in reply to representations in this direction made to him by a deputation from the National Beekeepers’ Association to-day. Mr E. W. Sage emphasised the vital necessity for tho beekeepers to secure some concession on' their supplies of sugar. Some producers obtained from 12 to 15 tons of sugar in a season for the maintenance of their bees. Mr W. Watson said it was very necessary in the drought-stricken areas of the South Island to feed 1 sugar to the bees. The Government had helped the farmers by the free carriage of lime, by fertiliser subsidies and by carrying stock and feed' during times of drought. The beekeepers were in the same position.

The Minister said he sympathised with the request, but he did not know what the Ministers of Customs and Finance thought about it. The principle had already been established by remissions in petrol taxation, and the principle was operating on butter box imports. It would be difficult to draw up regulations for the remission of duty on sugar because it would be impossible to define what was used for the production of honey and what was used in other ways. It would be accepted that the principle was a sound one. Material brought into the country to aid production should be sold as cheaply as possible.

Mr Maemillian added that he would do his best to secure the rebate sought. It would have to go before the Government.