NEW ORGANISATION FORMED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22790, 14 January 1944, Page 4

NEW ORGANISATION FORMED

Dissatisfied Apiarists CRITICISM OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (N.Z.P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 11. The stand taken by the Canterbury branch of the National Beekeepers’ Association not to supply the Internal Marketing Division with honey may have a seouel in the formation of a new Dominion body, according to statements made by the president, Mr T. B. Bray, this evening. In response to a circular which he had sent out personally presenting the attitude of his branch, many outside beekeepers had joined the Canterbury branch in sympathy, he said. One North Island branch had transferred its membership in a body. A proposal had now been mooted to form a new organisation to deal with the present honey control situation.

Mr Bray said that the main fault found in the National Beekeepers’ Association was its failure to call a postal ballot on acceptance or rejection of the honey control regulations. Many growers felt that the policy of the national association did not represent the true feeling of the industry. Tire Canterbury branch had not finally reaffirmed its decision not to supply the Internal Marketing Division again this year because no reply had been received from the Minister of Marketing (Mr Roberts) to a deputation sent by Canterbury beekeepers to explain their case.

An indirect answer was the confirmation for tliis season of the honey control regulation with what the Minister termed a “modification.” Mr Bray said it was interesting to note that the Minister published his intentions to the fruitgrowers for their opinion, but beekeepers received no such consideration. Advice had been received that the Government was sending Mr E. Stoupe (depot manager) and Mr J. Renton (secretary), of the Auckland Internal Marketing Division, to Canterbury next month to meet the beekeepers. It was not intended to hear them till some reply had been received from the Minister, as growers did not know the significance of the visit.