THE HONEY INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19349, 9 June 1926, Page 17

THE HONEY INDUSTRY.

BEEKEEPERS' CONFERENCE. PAST SEASON UNFAVOURABLE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. 3 HAMILTON. Tuesday. The thirteenth annual conference of the National Beekeepers' Association of New Zealand was opened to-day. Mr. A. H. Davies presided over an attendance of 100 members. Speeches of welcome were delivered by the Mayor of Hamilton, Mr. J. R. Fow, the Hon. J. A. Young, M.P. for Hamilton, and Mr. J. A. Campbell. Director of Horticulture. A satisfactory report concerning the membership and the financial position of the association was presented by the executive. A new branch, it was stated, had been formed in North Auckland and sub-branches had been established in South Auckland and Canterbury. The executive had been advocating for amendments to the Apiaries Act to provide for increased fines for breaches and for the removal of the anomalies obtaining in respect to the prosecution of beekeepers failing to register. The report stated that the executive had been concerned regarding the requirement of the postal regulations which prohibited the use of solder on the inside of metal containers. The enforcement of this regulation was a serious matter to the beekeepers, as it meant that a large percentage of extractors, tanks and melters, which were made of galvanised iron, would have to be scrapped. These regulations had been in existence in 1913, but they had not been enforced. No case of poisoning had been reported, and in America thu use of galvanised iron for honey containers was not prohibited. Mr. Davies said, that owing to the small sum of money available the executive had been unable to arrange "a honey week." Reference was made to the pricecutting that was going on in connection with the sain of honey, and Mr. Davies stated that- the present position was unsatisfactory to the producer, the storekeeper and tho public and only retarded consumption. Owing to the unfavourable season there had been a decrease of 200 tons of honey exported during the last season. A credit balance of £IOO was shown in the balance-sheet. A Government subsidy of £IOO had been received. Mr. Davies said the membership was not considered to bf> satisfactory, for of 5000 or 6000 beekeepers in the country, only a small pi'oportiox were members of the association. Operations had been carried out for the control of disease and much good work had been done. The part-time inspection scheme was proving very helpful.

The report and balance-shee were adopted. A lecture on the anatomy of the. bee was given by Mr. R. Gibb. The conference will l>e continued tomorrow.