HONEY CONTROL

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 63, 7 March 1933, Page 5

HONEY CONTROL

A Margin For Producers PROTEST BY ASSOCIATED CHAMBERS GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION SOUGHT (Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. A protest against the assumption to-morrow by the Honey Control Board of absolute control of all honey exported to Great Britain and Europe has been made by the Assocated Chambers of Commerce, which asked the Government to make an investigation into the affairs of the board.' The secretary of the Chambers said to-day that his body had communicated with the Minister of Agriculture urging that assumption of control be staged pending an investigation by the Government into operations of the board and its associates, also publication of the results of that investigation. There had been much criticism of the marketing methods of the board and the serious restrictions it imposed on exports to the United Kingdom founded independently of the board. The authority of the board for assuming absolute control was challenged, it being contended that no mandate lias been given by the majority of the producers, the approval of the National Beekeepers Association being regarded insufficient. The Associated Chambers point out that as the result of the monopoly enjoyed by the board in the export of honey to Britain and Europe the producers have no option but to accept whatever return is provided by the board, and are therefore denied the benefit of open competition. It draws attention to the fact ihat according to the report No 50 of tiie Empire Marketing Board, published in .May of last year, honey was retailing in the United Kingdom in 11b. glassjars at prices ranging from 1/4 to I/O, while the producers were receiving - only as high as 2|d per pound in bulk. The Chamber suggests the Honey Control Board is absorbing an unduly heavy margin at the expense of the producers, and explains that it would not be opposed to the Honey Control Board if it were a voluntary body desired by the producers, but is desirous of securing freedom for exporters from any control by the board.