HONEY MARKETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 18

HONEY MARKETING.

CONTROL IN AUSTRALIA. The beekeepers of New South Wales arc the third section of producers in that Slato to carry an affirmative voto in balloting for tho constitution of a marketing board. In duo course a board to control the marketing of honey and consisting of three producers and two Government appointees (who may be producers) will be elected. This is the result of 312 affirmative votes in the poll out of a net enrolment of 482. of whom 446 voted. There arc upward of 5000 registered beekeepers in the State, but, (ho qualification for the franchise was 25 hives. The industry is one in which a good deal of effective organisation has been dono on co-operative lines of late years, both on a State and Federal basis. But this has not gone far enough, aiid a section of the producers has borne the whole burden. A stage was reached when it was concluded that further progress was dependent upon getting all honey producers into ono marketing fold. Ihe result of tho ballot has justified this view. The existing channels of marketing will not, bo disturbed by tho board, but the object is to regulate supplies to spread them over the season, and thus ensure steadier prices and a more stable market. Tho board, it is expected, will also set up grades, and thus standardise quality. Tho blending of the product has already made considerable progress, and ihe hope is to make this general, so that the producers may get the benefit in the way of any extra return, instead of the speculative blenders.