MARKETING OF HONEY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21468, 17 April 1933, Page 12

MARKETING OF HONEY

Sir, May I explain to newcomers to the honey industry that the National Beekeepers' Association and the Honey Producers' Association are the only beekeepers' organisations in the Dominion, and that every year members of the Honey Board "and the Honev Producers' Association directorate attend and fully explain the policies of their organisations and answer at length, with figures from the records, all questions asked by those present. Resolutions passed at these meetings have governed the policies of 60th the Honey Board and the Honey Producers Association, and the present policy of the Honey Board is the result of the definite demand of the organised beekeepers of the Dominion. It is often stated that there are over 8000 registered beekeepers and that the National Association does not represent these beekeepers. But 4000 of these beekeepers do not produce honey for sale. There are only 230 of them who produce honey for export (vide Mr. Earp, chief apiary instructor, at Auckland, February 27). These 230 exporting producers comprise the progressive, commercial element in the industry and it is their production that the Honey Board markets overseas. These 230 are nearly ail members of the National Association, which can claim to speak for 90 per cent at least of the exported honey production of the Dominion. The resolution which was unanimously passed at Hamilton last week by -a large meeting of the leading honey pro(1 ucers of the Auckland province, hrmly indicates determination to keep the Honey Board staunch in its present policy of overseas marketing. The onlv way to help the industry to-day, through the time of depression, is from the inside— constructively. I invite anyone who sincerely desires, to help the industry to communicate "with mo, and I will assure him of every facility for framing any suggestions on practical lines, and of presenting such suggestions to meetings of beekeepers and to tho executives of \. the beekeepers' organisations. P. A. Hillary. . President National Beekeepers' Association.,