N.Z. HONEY LEADS ON HOME MARKET

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6543, 27 February 1928, Page 8

N.Z. HONEY LEADS ON HOME MARKET

Advertising Plays an Important Part SAYS CONTROL BOARD CHAIRMAN One of the outstanding- features of the United Kingdom was the small domestic consumption of honey, remarked tho chairman of tho Honey Control Board (Mr. J. Hentoul. of Auckland) when speaking to a "Times” representative yesterday upon the prospects of increasing the export trade of that product from New Zealand. Mr. Rcntoul in going into detail, explained that in New Zealand there were .105,000 registered hives which could produce, 3,000 tons of honey each year, taking an average of 601bs per hive. The exported honey was less than 1,000 tons which meant that New Zealander’s consumed the other 2000 tons. In England, on tho other hand, the honey production amounted to about 1000 tons only and in 1926 the Old Country imported 3,600 tons. Of the total of 4,600 tons, 3,000 went into domestic consumption amongst tho 42 millions of people. That -worked out at a very small amount per head compared with the quantity per head used in New Zealand. Mr. Hentoul was of opinion that these figures showed the great potential market there was in England and with judicious publicity, there was no reason why New Zealand should not work up a larger export trade. He instanced the case of New Zealand itself. Ten years ago the honey consumtlon was only half what it is today. Packed honey, according to the Control Board chairman, offered the best possibilities and a more uniform price. With bulk sales New Zealand would have to compete with all tho other honey imported into the United Kingdom which is sold at a price unprofitable to Now Zealand producers. That packet sales was the best procedure was proved by the fact that it had been adopted by Cuban, Canadian and Australian exporters. New Zealand honey was leading on the Home market and with wide distribution one would expect no difficulty in selling all tho honey the Dominion could produce. That sales in England were not greater at tho present time was due to the fact that honey was a small item in English menus.

The Dominions’ premier position on the Home market was due in a great measure to advertising and now that Canada and Australia were benefitting by the Empire Marketing Board’s scheme of inter-Empiro trade and are being assisted by their respective Givernments as well, it was necessary that the New Zealand Government should give assistance to Dominion producers. In this connection the Honey Board was asking Cabinet to grant £3,000 per year for four years. The matter was particularly urgent at tho present time as production was increasing and the Home market was at a stage when a little bit of extra push would put the New Zealand trade on a sound footing. This could be accomplished by advertising. In Germany the Board had established a business that was giving a fair amount of sales but Increased distribution was necessary to put the business on a paying basis. Mr. Rcntoul said he felt sure this could be done by advertising. New Zealand honey was popular and there was a fine outlet across tho Rhine for the product. Germany had to import and there was no reason why New Zealand should not supply the demand.