IMPORTANT TO BEEKEEPERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 21

IMPORTANT TO BEEKEEPERS.

Farmers or their wives frequently keep bees for the supply of Jioney for the household, and occasionally for the market. It is important that they should have some idea of the legislation affecting them -which was passed last session. The follow'ng digest of the most important clauses of " The A.piaries Act, 1907," which came into "force on September 14, has been prepared for the information of the beekeepers throughout the Dominion by Mr J. D. Ritchie, Secretary of Agriculture: — 2. In this act, if not inconsistent with the context, "apiary" means any place where bees are kept. " Beekeeper " means any person who keeps bees or allows the same to be .kept upon any land "occupied by him. " Disease " - means foul-brood (Bacillus alvei and Bacillus larvae), bee-moths (Galleria mellonella and Achrcea grizzella), and any other diseases or pests from time to time declared by the Governor-in-Council^ to be diseases within the meaning of this act. -" Frame hive " means a hive containing movable frames in which She combs are built, 'and which may be readily removed from -the hive for examination. " Inspector" means /any person appointed by jthe "Governor as an, inspector under this act. 3. Every 'beekeeper ir, whose apiary any disease appears shall within. ., seven, days after first becoming aware of its presence send written notice thereof to the Secretary of Agriculture at Wellington, or to any inspector of stock. 5. Any inspector may enter .upon any premises or buildings for the purpope of examining any bees, hives, or bee* appli-

ances, and if the same are found to be" infected with disease he shall direct the beekeeper to forthwith take such measures a^ may be- necessary to cure the disease ; or if in the opinion of the inspector the disease is too fully developed to be cured, he may direct the beekeeper within a speci- | fied time to destroy by fire the bees, hives, and appliances so infected, or such portions \ thereof as the inspector deems necessary. j 6. In any case in which it is found by j an inspector that the bee-combs in any hive cannot, without cutting, be separately and readily removed from the hive for examination he may direct the beekeeper to transferthe bees to a new frame hive within a specified time. 7. (1) Every direction by an inspector shall be in writing under his hand, and shall be either delivered to the beekeeper personally or sent to x him by registered letter addressed to him at his last-known place of abode. (2) Every such direction shall be faithfully complied with by 'the beekeeper to whom it is addressed, and in default of- compliance within the time specified the inspector may within one month destroy or cause to be destroyed by firo, at the expense of the beekeeper, any bees, hives, and appliances found to he infected with disease. - • - 8. No beekeeper shall (a) keep or allow to be kept .upon" .any land occupied ty him any' bees, bee-combs, hives, or appliances known to him to be infected by disease : without - immediately -taking the - proper 'steps .to cure the disease; or (b) sell, barter, j or give away any bees or appliances from ' an apiary, known 1 by him .to be' infected 'by , disease. .. ' ,„ ' 9.' No 'beekeeper shall, after the expiry of "six months from the passing of thjs act, ke>sp or knowinstfy allow to be kepi; on any land occupied J>by him any bees except in a "properly-constructed franVe hive. 10. Every person is liable to a fine not exceeding £5 who (a) obstructs an inspector in the exercise of his duties' under this . act, or refuses to destroy or to permit the destruction of infected bees or appliances ; (b) fails to compiv with any direction given. under . the provisions of ,thia act by any inspector; (c) commits any other breach of this act.