HONEY INDUSTRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 69, 22 February 1937, Page 9

HONEY INDUSTRY

OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK.REVIEW FOR DOMINION. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Feb. 19. An optimistic view of market prospects and the announcement of a fla-t rate of payment plus bonus to producers are disclosed in a report released by Mr J. R. Butland, chairman of the Honey Control Board. In a circular to producers the board states: “The continued satisfactory position of the board’s business in Britain has enabled a. complete clearance of all the accumulated stocks and very satisfactory progress in the disposal of last season’s export. Advice just received discloses further increases in Imperial Bee and second pack sales. The board’s actual sales in 1936 exceeded those of 1928 by 331 tons, and the producer obtained a much higher return. Providing there are no shortages in supply the board is confident that the present season’s sales will exceed those of the 1929 peak year by a substantially greater amount. “To encourage adequate supplies to take care of this business it has been decided this season to replace the present system of offering producers an advance, and jn its stead to make a straight-out flat payment of 3Jd per lb. when the honey is Received into store and passed for export. This covers all honeys, irrespective of grade. A careful survey of the situation leads to -lie conclusion that the export business is in an extremely satisfactory position, and producers sending honey forward this season, in addition to getting the advantages offered above, have every reason to expect that their uiltimate returns will be substantially better than the previous record payments in 193435 or 6ld. per lb. pro rata. “The board has consistently endeavoured to develop secondary pack for the purpose of bettering the position of producers in areas producing the darker honeys. Satisfactory progress has been made with this pack, and the opening of fresh avenues for the disposal of these honeys has every promise of success, and it has been decided to offer a bonus of Id. per lb. on all noney grading between 70 to 80 points, progressively diminishing from 80 to rOO points. The above are not pro rata payments but ensure for every pound of honey sent in an immediate pay-out of Bid. per lb. plus the bonus of Id. a lb. ’as stated above. This arrangement also a.pplies to all honey sent in before receipt of this notice. The board reserves the right to revise this offer after receipt of the first 200 tons.”