NEW. ZEALAND HONEY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20283, 16 December 1927, Page 15

NEW. ZEALAND HONEY.

A UNIQUE POSITION. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, .November 9. New Zealand was represented by Mr H. W. Castle and Mr S. C. Manhire (for the High Commissioner) at a public inquiry by the Standing Committee under the Merchandise Marks Act, to consider an application for an Ordcr-in Council to require the marking of imported honey. Mr Castle, (of A. J. Mills and Co., Ltd., sole agents in Europe of the New Zealand Honey Export Control Board), supporting the application, said he did so on the grounds that at present .here was undoubtedly a considerable quantity of honey being sold in this country Empire honey which was not of Empire ori rin. He went on to explain the regulations governing the production, grading, and export of honey in New Zealand, which he said were of the strictest description, and which prevented the exportation of any honey which did not come up to the Government standard. New Zealand honey for commercial purposes fetched the highest price in the world. The question of blends was, he admitted, a very difficult problem, but he thought the committee could deal with it in some way. It could, for instance, say that a blend should be marked; “ This > .s a blend of foreign and British honey.” Answering Sir Basil Mayhew (one of the committee), witness said he would not like to say that if he had samples of British and foreign honey put before him he could absolutely guarantee that he could distinguish them, but in nine cases ous of ton be would be able to do so by the flavour and tho texture. He did not think the public knew enough about honey to be able to discriminate, and that was why marking was necessary. Replying to another question, Mr Castle said it was correct to say that New Zealand was in a unique position in regard to the methods it employed in trading in honey, as it had got a very complete system of co-ordination among the producers. not merely as a result of education. but also as a result of legislation. The’ bee-keeper got ..aid according to his grade of honey, but whatever tho grade it wax bulked in New Zealand and sold over here as one standard. It aimed at presenting to the public an article which could be depended upon alway t . bo of the same standard of quality. It did m.t want to sell to packers here, because its aim was to have a standard New Zealand honey on tho market, whereas u it went to the packers they might have half a dozen different standard:.