NEW ZEALAND HONEY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21021, 9 May 1930, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND HONEY.

CONTROL BOARD CRITICISED, USELESS TO THE INDUSTRY. The recent change in the sole European agents in London to handle New Zealand “ Imperial Bee ” honey has prompted Mr J- Murdoch, of Ross, Westland, who is on a visit to Dunedin, to give some particulars regarding the industry ii. the Dominion and also to offer criticism regarding the operations of the Control Board. Mr Murdoch has been a beekeeper for a number of years, and has followed closely the work of the Control Board. Mr Murdoch said that at present there was only one selling agent in London, and that the other Tooley street agpnts considered that they were just as entitled to handle New Zealand honey as this firm. As a consequence, the outside firms would not interest themselves in New Zealand honey, but confined their attention to Californian honey. Moreover, Mr Murdoch states that the London agents do not put the New Zealand honey up to auction, but simply place it with the retailers at a certain price. In his opinion, the honey was badly handled commercially, and the producer was not receiving fair value for his produce or an adequate return for his labour. The industry could absorb many more men, under a different selling- system, and thus.-assist in reducing unemployment. There were, indeed, 1000 to 1500 fewer beekeepers in New Zealand than when, control came into force in Sir Murdoch explained that the producers had appointed a New Zealand Producers’ Association .to handle their product both in the Dominion and abroad, and that subsequently the Government had passed the Control Act # which gave limited control only. Mr Murdoch said that this control had, however, now become absolute, and that no producer could send honey out of the country unless through the board. It -was rather remarkable ne said, that the directors of the associawon were also the directors of the board. fo ™ Government had last year granted £9OOO for the purpose of advertising Lmpenal Bee honey in England, but Mr Murdoch strongly held that the Dominion was not receiving anything like full value for the expenditure of this amount. The expenditure, indeed, was far too heavy for the small amount of honey exported every year, this ranging from 300 tons to 600 tons. H fn^ ad A Bte Ps in 1928 and again in 1920 to bring the anomalies under the notice of members of Parliament, but they did not appear to be very much interested in the Control Board. Mr Murdoch said he had no hesita* tion in stating that the Control lioard should be abolished and the pro* clucers should be permitted to conduct their own business, with free selling on any market they chose. The producers would then be able to obtain better, prices, and they would not be required'-to contribute towards the salaries of a considerable number of officials. As soon as the honey for export passed-into the hands of the Control Board it was lost to the producer, who had to accept whatever ™W ■ V" 5 ? T ond .°? a Kents (Messrs C. for it M ° rton) might see fit t 0 obtain i ,Murdoch has in his possession a letter from Messrs A. J. Mills and Co., in which they state that they are not prepared to quote a price based onr the (government grader’s grade mark. If the new agents also decline to buy on the grade mark, what, he asks, is the use of tbe Government grade stores, graders and an expenditure of £4OOO pir year for their upkeep. Direct shipments to principal Ports in the United Kingdom as. well as the. Continent should be made by producers instead of restricting shipments to London only. The board upholds the Honey Producers' Association in its management, and even approves of its pack ot Blended Honey,” which means that’ honey from ail over New Zealand is melted together in a tank to give a uniform colour, thus killing its aroma. What would happen, Mr Mur doch asks, if all New Zealand butter and cheese were blended in London to give .a uniform colour? Now that the Government has granted £9OOO of the taxpayers’ money he’would suggest it should appoint the presidents of the Chambers “.Commerce in Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin to report on the marketing of honey as conducted by the Control iioard and Honey Producers’ Association.