BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9124, 4 August 1888, Page 6

BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

Thf, monthly meeting of the New Zealand Bee-keepers' Association was held yesterday in the office of Messrs. Hopkins, Hayr, and Co., Lower Queen-street, Mr. G. L. Peacocke in the chair. Honey Rate.—Mr. Peacocke opened the meeting by saying he had had an interview with Mr. Hudson, traffic manager of the railways, and found they had been under a misapprehension as to the freight on local honey, and that the freight on local honey was £l 13s 7d per 100 miles per ton, and it was only imported honey that was charged £2 Is (3d. Mr. l'eaeocke said he thought the tariff in the Gazette should be more specific as to whether it was imported or not. Mr. Hopkins thought the tariff ought to be so altered as to show the difference between locally-produced and imported honey, and he believed that in nine cases out of ten a country station agent would charge the higher rate. There was no guide as to any difference. Country agents always charged the highest rates. lie tariff read simply " Honey in bottles, tins, or jars, owners' risk, class A. Honey in kegs or casks, owners' risk, class B. Honey, extracted, packed, locally produced, owners' risk, class C. Honey, extracted for export, in consignments of not less than lOcwt, owners' risk, class D." The matter was allowed to stand till the Society received an official reply. Foul Brood.—Letters were received from Mr. Lawry, M. H.R., and also the Colonial Secretary, relative to the Foul Brood Bill. Mr. Lawry expressed himself as doubtful of getting it through this session, but the Colonial Secretary said he would favour it all in his power. A hope was expressed that as there was no opposition to the Bill that it would be put through and not meet its fate in the slaughter of the innocents." Marketing Honey.—The subject of marketing honey was taken up, and a letter from Mr. Mulvaney, Thames, was read, expressing his pleasure that the question was going to be brought before the Association. He thought the apiary should select the price for honey, and the honey-growers pay commission instead of allowing the retailers to fix the price at their own sweet will. He suggested the idea be tried by a depot being established, and dealing the honey out to the retail dealers. He thought the principle sound. Mr. Hopkins said he would not like to take such a risk in the present state of affairs in Auckland. There were only three or four firms in the city he would feel like doing so too. The Chairman thought it would be a little risky, and saw no advantage in the plan. The Secretary said they tried fixing the price in the former association, and it had not worked. It was suggested that the rates be published at stated times, similarly to the Grocers' Association. Some further discussion ensued on the point, but nothing was settled, it being decided to hold over the discussion ou marketing honey till another meeting, to allow time to receive the views of country members on the subject.