THE APIARY

Otago Witness, Issue 3353, 19 June 1918, Page 7

THE APIARY

By J. A

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE HONEY PRODUCERS' CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION (LTD.). Tho annual meeting of tbo 11.P.A. lock place at Edmarison'e Hall, Lambton quay, Wellington; Mr Gilling, managing- director, in the chair. Tho Chairman moved tho adoption of tho balance sheet, which in printed form was in tho hands of the shareholders. In his comments thereon he spoke of the opposition which the association had met in dealing with tho season's crop and which had probably led some of the shareholders to go past tho company. This opposition had, however, owing to the shipping difficulty, practically ceased. Mr Gilling a!so mentioned tho guarantee made by tho 13. and D. Company of £6O per ton for three years after the war ceased, and said that a new agreement incorporating this guarantee would be signed The guarantee is for £6O per ton f.0.b., New Zealand, less any chargo for freight and insurance exceeding that being charged at the beginning of the war. In speaking of shipment, Mr Gilling said that there were at present in grading stores 340 tons of honey awaiting shipment, and that almost certainly the quantity would exceed 400 tons before the season was ended. He said that shipping prospects were not good. In Auckland there seemed more hope than in the southern ports, as a large quantity of foodstuffs that had priority over honey were now awaiting shipment. In speaking of depots to deal with local supplies Air Gilling mentioned that, owing to the large increase in price for shipment, supplies to tho bottling depots had been cut down in favour of shipment, and a request from Southland for a depot there had been held over meantime.

The adoption of the report was seconded by Mr Brickell, who firet referred 'to the modesty of the chairman in not mentioning the fact that 1917 honey was to receive a further payment, which even then would not be final, but which would bring it up to Sd per lb. He went minutely into th. 6 difficulties the company encountered through the want of capital, and the difficulties that lay in the way of the shareholders being called on, even though willing, to pay up more —calling on the shareholders to face and right the position. Mr Brickell also spoke of the need for a change in management. He expressed the opinion that the manager should not bo a director of the company, and that the books should bo kept by a qualified accountant.

The Chairman, after the adoption of " u he report, asked the meeting to deal with the question of what is to be done with the 350 tons of honey in graded stores. It was resolved to fill present orders made on list issued early in the season, amounting to some 60 tons.

The question of accepting the B. and D. Company's guarantee of £60 —a minimum per ton —and of preparing agreement was next dealt with, and a resolution passed asking the directors to accept the offer and have the agreement completed. In order to add to the working capital of the company it was agreed to ask shareholders to allow id per lb on the honey delivered during years 1917 and 1918 to go to their share account in payment of shares.

The next question dealt with was the shifting of the head office of the company from Hawera to a larger centre, and on this the chairman expressed his opinion that Auckland wae the most suitable. Homo discussion followed, resulting in no action being taken. •Mr Eric Wills was re-elected auditor at a salary of £l2 12s. Mr Brickell brought forward a motion to change ihe management of the company. As a result of a good deal of discussion it was resolved to appoint Mr H. W. Gillman general manager of the company at a salary of £4OO per annum. The retiring directors (Messrs R. W. Brickell, of Dunedin, and E. W. Sage, of Waikato) were re-elected. WELLINGTON, June 14. The Bcckeopers' Conference endorsed the proposal to appoint a chief apiarist and increase the salaries of the present officers, and it was resohed to send a deputation to the Ministor of Agriculture and thcPublic Service Commissioner to urge the adoption of the proposals. It was also resolved that the honey in store bo shipped at the earliest opportunity, and that beekeeping- bo recognised as an essential industry requiring petrol. It was stated that at present there are 700 cases of honey awaiting shipment; also that the queen-rearing apiary at Tauranga will be sufficiently advanced to enable the department to start queen-rearing early next season. ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF BEEKEEPERS. The conference opened under most favourable conditions. There was the largest attendance that has yet been at any of our conferences, something like 100 beekeepers being pre«ien\ The Hon. W. F S. MacDonald, the Minister of Agriculture, gave the opening address, and spoke very hopefully of the future of the industry, and especially of its suitability for returned sol.b'ers, and nlso as a light employment for «)rao of their dependents. Further addresses were given by Mr T. _W. Kirk, Director of the Orchards Division ; Mr Pope, Secretary of Agriculture; and Mr Young, M.P. for Waikato.

The opening address of tho president and tlio secretary's report and balance sheet completed the morning sitting. In the afternoon Mr Trythal, Ruakiira aprarist, gave a long and most interesting address on the experimental "work at I?uaIcura; while Mr Allan gars a demonstration on packages for the looal and English market. We hope to give sortie impressions of tho conference next week, meanwhile wo would just Bay that there 13 a very buoyant feeling as to tha future of our industry.