BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14722, 12 August 1921, Page 6

BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL BRANCH. The monthly meeting of the Auckland Provincial Branch of the National Beekeepers' Association was held in the Bath room, Hamilton, yesterday. Remits from National Association. Mr F. C. Baines, secretary of the National Beekeepers' Association of NewZealand, forwarded a copy of remits -which were heing sent to the various provincial branches. The first remit was, "That the matter of establishing a fighting fund at is per apiary per year ■he submitted to the branches for their consideration. This fighting fund is for the purpose of assisting any member who may be sued in Court for al- : legecl damage done by his bees." The secretary of the branch, Mr A. H. Davies, remarked that unfortunately the tax was only a voluntary one, and consequently the fund should only be used to help those who had contributed towards it. Another sneaker said that if any particular apiarist's bees were condemned as a nuisance all members' bees would be condemned, and thus it was necessary to establish a fund to contest each case in the interests of the whole industry. It was decided to recommend that the fee suggested of is an apiary be amended to Is per member. The second remit was "That a vote o r the individual members of the National be token on the question of the desirability of electing the executive by postal ballot, the votes to be returned within one month of receipt. Under the present constitution the executive is elected at the annual conference." Discussing this remit, one member said that it was better for the executive to be elected at the conference lor there the candidates for election ■were better known. Another member, however, did not scree with this view, for a man who could talk had but to get up and "spout" to gain a position on the executive, whereas a good man mi.ihl be unable to attend the conference. If was remarked 1.hr.l if a member could not attend the conference he could nof have a vole, which most certainly was nof fair. It was finally decided to recommend thai the manner of voting should stand as it was at the present time. Apiary Demonstrations. Discussion arose as to the great •benefit of holding lectures on beekeeping, apiary demonstrations, etc. It was decided In hob] a demonstration end lecture combined in about a month's time, on a Saturda; afternoon at an adjacent apiary. The matter was left to the secretary to arrange. Exhibit at Winter Show. The question of a honey exhibit at the Winter Show was considered. It was decided that a committee composed or (he chairman, secretary, and Mr T. Pearson go info the matter of competitive honey classes at the Winter Show; and further, that the Hamilton branch advance a sum towards Hi" prizemnr;ey. If wis considered that the prize should he awarded to the most comprehensive and attractive district display. The opinion was expressed that the competitions should not be so much to ad\erlis.-- Ih'i quality of each district's honey, but to brins before the public IhCi fact that the H.P.A. was a medium for the marketing of bcc-kcepcrs' products. Now Branch Formed. The chairman reported that a Hau•aki Plains branch of the Association been formed at Ngatea, and said that the branch promised to be a particularly strong one.