HONEY CONTROL.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 November 1933, Page 4

HONEY CONTROL.

(To tlie Editor.)

Sir, —Beekeepers throughout New Zealand would laugh to scorn the rediculous return of 2d and 3d per lb reported bv the chairman of the Honey Control Board, for this seasons honey. Now that the Honey Producers’ Association is out of business,- does the eharman infer that the Honey Control Board set up by the Government have gone into easiness in opposition to the producers of honey, .and were only able to pay. producers the paltry sum of 3d per lb for top white special honey when New Zealand honey in London is retailing at from Is 2d to Is 0d per lb. . ... -

Producers to-day are wondering where the difference in price goes to, when lie only gets 2d or 3d per lb out of Is 2d to Is 6d per lb. The chairman’s hope,that producers will get 4ld to 5d per lb is absolutely hopeless. Producers - to-day do not know who is shipping their honey, who is buyng their, honey or the price obtained' for it. They don’t- know, if only one man or more is getting £IOOO per year for what any produce exporter will do at 21 per cent. Is it any wonder that only 130 beekeepers out of . 8,500 are exporting honey. Government control in business is a failure wherever it interferes with private enterprise. Very often men without the necessary qualificatons are placed in responsible positions with the result that we are mis-gov-erned. Supply and demand rules the world but fixation of prices results in bankruptcy. The industry in Westland 'is capable of expansion on sound lines, if we can abolish Government interference, as the honey produced here as far as quality is concerned is out on its own. I am etc, JOHN-MURDOCH ROSS,. Nov. 10, 1933.