HONEY CONTROL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 29 July 1932, Page 6

HONEY CONTROL

PRODUCERS’ INTERESTS STATEMENT BY MINISTER Feating that’ certain outside: nonproducing, interests would bring pressure on the Government to control the powers of the Honey Control Board, a deputation from the National Beekeepers’ Association obtained ail assurance from the Minister of Agriculture that lie would watch the producers’ interests. The Minister incidentally criticised the producers’ expenditure on advertising their honey. Recent criticism of the Honey Control Board’s policy was referred to by ■Mr W. J. Jordan, M.P., who said they wished to follow that policy which was considered in the best interests' - 'of the whole of the beekeepers. The president of the association, Mr P. A. Hillary, sti'essed the value of the Control Board, and said, that of principal importance to the producers Avas the handling of the overseas market along the lines successfully adopted by the board. As a result of the board’s policy about £45,000 had been spent in advertising, which had benefited not ofily honey but all the Dominion’s primary products sent overseas. Those in a position to know had declared that tlie advertising of New Zealand honey had done more to bring it before the notice of consumers than the advertising of any other primary product. Expenditure on advertising had built up an asset which gave them a premium over every other brand landed in London of at least lid a pound. In return for marketing honey they received in New Zealand at least 4d- a pound net, and the best that could be obtained by other countries for their product was 2kl a pound. If the Control Board Avcnt out of existence the Dominion Avould lose its asset as far as hoiley marketing Avas concerned. The Beekeepers’ Association had formulated a scheme for the formation of a new company to take the place of the •Honey Producers’ Association, and they wished to endorse the policy of the Control Board. They asked that the Minister and the Government should use their influence to see that the board ■was retained.

Mr W. Nelson said they had to thank the Government for saving their position on the o\ - erseas market by passing the Control Act. Certain outside interests Avhich did not produce honey were trying to smash the Control Board, and they Avere afraid that those interests ..would bring pressure to bear on the Government for a curtailment in the powers of tire board. The Minister (the HoiV C. E. Macmillan) said he did not think they had reached the stage of discussing the abolition of the board. The Department’s reports bore out Avhat the association said about prices, but the Department suggested that the prices Avere obtained by an expensive method. A total of £45,000 spent on advertising would not be much if they had plenty of goods to sell but Avhen, for the sake of argument, they had only £50,000 Worth it Avould be too expensive. “1 Realise that you have established a good name in the Old Country,” said Mr Macmillan,. “and your advertising charges can now be reduced.” The Director-General of Agriculture (Dr C. J. Reakes) said that a member of the board Avas going closely into that question with the agents .in London.

; The Minister assured the deputation that he Avould do all he could to assist them in retaining the goodAvill and the trade mark they had established in .Great Britain. If the board AA r as funtioning satisfactorily for the producers, it could not be as bad as some people made out.