THE HONEY INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16559, 7 June 1917, Page 4

THE HONEY INDUSTRY.

FUTURE PROSPECTS GOOD.

FIELD FOR RETURNED SOLDIERS. [BY telegraph— association.]

WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The fourth annual conference of the New Zealand Beekeepers Association s being held. Mr, Pope, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, said that the industry had made great strides in New -Zealand, and was now on a far better footing than formerly. This to a great extent was due to the work of the conferences. Another factor was the work done by the Government through the Department of Agriculture. Regarding the future, the first matter the Government had in view, which would likely be brought into effect at an early date, was the registration of all apiaries throughout New Zealand. The process would be simple, and would greatly assist instructors in ♦heir work. Another matter tho Department had in mind was the establishment of a queen-rearing apiary, which would be located at Tauranga. The conference would be called upon to consider the question of looking after the bee farms,, of men who had gone to the front, and he was looking forward to a number of returned soldiers taking up bee-keeping. Means would have to be found to train them for the work. There was room for any number of beekeepers in New Zealand, and it was perfectly certain that there would be an ample market for all honey produced at thoroughly remnniTative prices. The president said that the past year haa been a lean one. but he thought they had reached the limit of" adverse conditions. Prospects for next season were better than for the past four years. Mr. Wright, late Government supervisor of dairy produce at Home, relating his observations in regard to the honey market in Britain, said that as far as he could judge nothing could be gained by altering the present system. New Zealand honey was regarded as excellent in Britain.