PRODUCTION OF HONEY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23378, 21 June 1939, Page 17

PRODUCTION OF HONEY

Sir. —In considering honey production .is a parallel with farm production Mr. K. Goodall is drawing an unreasonable comparison when he suggests that, apiarists should have a monopoly of territory for miles around. In the first place the fanner has to expend much capital in producing all I he pastures on which his stock graze and which he has necessarily to protect by fencing. The apiarist on the other hand, apart from liisdepot si(e. need not develop any land, but gathers nectar froni other men's property for miles around. Obviously every occupier of land has the right to produce honey if he will, and your correspondent's suggestion would not only interfere with this right, hut would create a monopoly which, like all monopolies, would lie commercialised and become a subject of speculation which would not in any way assist the consumer of honey, of whose interest your correspondent is so solicitous. The only people seeking such a monopoly are the commercial apiarists, find ,if territory is overstocked it is the big producers who are responsible for such a condition by establishing out. apiaries, intentionally or otherwise, unreasonably close to existing apiaries. This practice has been going on deliberately to the detriment of all parties concerned, but it floes not. justify the withdrawal of tlio rights of other occupiers. The factor of ignorance can easily be eliminated by the charting of registered apiaries by the Agricultural Department so that the information may he available to the industry. It seems unlikely that consumers are perturbed over any loss of honey through overstocking as the price is adjusted on a party basis and there is seldom no exportable surplus. Your correspondent considers there is but "one good seasou" in four or five. Perhaps ho means one exceptional season. A prominent apiary instructor considers we never have two had seasons in succession. F. 0. II HOOKS. 2 Umere Crescent, Kllerslie.