HONEY BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 21771, 28 July 1932, Page 8

HONEY BOARD

FEAR OF ABOLITION PRODUCERS WAIT ON MINISTER ASSURANCE GIVEN (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, July 27. Fears that certain interests woifld bring pressure to bear upon the Government to secure the abolition or curtailment of the powers of the Honey Export Control Board were expressed by a deputation from the Beekeepers’ Association which waited on the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. C. E. Macmillan) to-day. Agreement with the policy being followed by the board was expressed by the speakers and the Minister gave an assurance that he would watch the interests of the producers. . The Minister said he dia not think they had reached the stage where they were discussing the abolition of the board. “The Department’s reports bear out what you say with regard to our prices,” he said, “but the Department suggests that these prices were obtained by an expensive method. A total of £45,000 was spent in advertising. That would not be much if you had plenty of goods to sell, but when you make only £so,ooo‘worth, for the sake of argument, it would be too expensive. I realize you have established a good name in the Old Country and your advertising charges can now be reduced. The Director-General of Agriculture (Dr C. J. Reakes) said Mr Butland, a member of the board, was at present in London and he was going closely into that question with the agents. The Minister said the producers could rest assured that as far as he was concerned he would do everything to help them to retain the goodwill and trademark they had established in Great Britain. If the board were functioning satisfactorily for producers it could not be as bad as some made out.