SUGAR FOR BEES.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19118, 1 December 1933, Page 10

SUGAR FOR BEES.

BURDEN IMPOSED ON KEEPERS ~ REQUEST FOR RELIEF. (Times’ Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. An assertion that bee farmers were suffering severely owing to the duty of over £9 per ton imposed on sugar was contained In a question Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Independent Egmont) asked the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, in the House of Representatives this afternoon. It was stated by Mr. Wilkinson that this commodity was largely used by bee keepers to feed bees during the season of the year when the natural food was in short supply. The duty so paid, he said, amounted to a considerable sum and it constituted a real hardship on a section of producers by taking their raw material. “Will the Minister give some assurance that relief will be given to correct a manifest injustice?’’ asked Mr. Wilkinson. In reply, Mr. Macmillan said that the effect of the sugar duty on the bee-keeping industry was discussed fully last year with his colleague, .the Minister of Customs, hut as a result the Government found itself unable to remit the duty, the practical impossibility of ensuring that duty-free sugar was utilised only for the feeding of bees having an important bearing upon this.

The whole question had lately received further attention and, as the information was not available in New Zealand, the High Commissioner in was communicated with some weeks since, and requested to ascertain if possible details of some method of dematuring sugar whioh would not detract from its fitness for bee feeding purposes. If this information aame to hand shortly it might prove of material value. In any case the whole matter would be given consideration.