HONEY PRODUCERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22349, 21 February 1936, Page 15

HONEY PRODUCERS

GATHERING AT RUAKURA IMPORTANCE OF MARKETING [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON. Thursday In spite of unfavourable weather there was an attendance of about 50 at the annual field day of the South Auckland branch of the National Beekeepers' Association,-held yesterday at the State Apiary, Ruakura. Mr. T. H. Pearson, president of the South Auckland branch, presided. In welcoming the visitors, Mr. TE. Rodda, manager of the Ruakura State Farm, stated that owing to the continued wet weather the honey production in the district was not as good as. might be expected. The opinion that the production would be below normal was also expressed by Mr. E. A. Earp, senior apiary instructor of the Department of Agriculture. The qu'estion of marketing was deiilt with by the chairman, Mr. T. H. Pearson - , who said that compared with other industries the beekeepers were lagging behind. He advocated central depots in each honey-producing district to which the honey could be taken as soon as it was extracted. It could then be treated bv scientific methods.

A review of marketing problems was fiven bv Mr. W. Nelson, of Otoroa:nga, president of the National Beekeepers' Association, and chairman of directors of New Zealand Honey, Limited. Mr. Nelson said there was urgent need for some form of local control of industry, backed by the Government. The object of such a system should be to stabilise prices and msirketing on a more satisfactory and equitable basis.

Other speakers were Mr. P. A. Hilliary, a member of the Honey Control Board, and Mr. T. S. Winter, apiary instructor in the South Auckland district.