39

H.— 29

Registration and Inspection of Nurseries. A total of 708 nurseries were registered during the year, being a slight increase on that for the previous period: £708 was collected in registration fees. Imported Fruit, Plants, etc. Owing to light crops in Australia, there was a decrease in the quantity of citrus fruits imported from that country. A continued improvement is noticeable in the general condition of Cook Islands fruit, with the exception of a few consignments of oranges, which opened up in more or less wasty condition. The Beekeeping Industry. Although the general spring conditions were favourable to the beekeeper, with every promise of a record season, continual rains, low temperatures, and strong winds prevailing during the normal period of the honev-flow resulted in poor yields of honey throughout the North Island. The conditions in the South Island were somewhat better, although the honey crop generally was below the average. The work of apiary-inspection has been well maintained, and considerable progress made in the stamping-out of disease. Valuable assistance in this connection has again been rendered by the majority of the part-time Inspectors appointed to assist the Apiary Instructors in the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland districts. It was found necessary, nevertheless, to take Court proceedings during the year against a number of beekeepers for breaches of the Apiaries Act. The total quantity of honey graded for export at the various grading-stores amounted to 16,388 cases. The bulk of this was of prime quality, the packing, &c., being well up to the requirements of the Honey Export Regulations. Practically the whole of the exportable crop is handled by the New Zealand Co-operative Honey-producers' Association, Ltd., Auckland, the great majority of the honeyproducers in New Zealand being members of the association. Quantities and values of honey exported from the Dominion during the last five years ended 31st March are as follows : 1926, 15,770 cwt., £51,733 ; 1927, 10,590 cwt., £34,695 ; 1928, 8,650 cwt., £27,784 ; 1929, 22,062 cwt., £82,230 ; 1930, 19,234 cwt., £75,623. Registration op Apiaries. To date some 6,925 apiaries have been registered, comprising a total of 104,239 colonies of bees, and certificates of registration have been issued to the respective owners. Staff. In conclusion, I have to thank all members of the divisional staff for their loyal co-operation during another busy year. Mr. G. E. Harnett, Fruit Inspector, retired on superannuation at the end of the year. During his long service in the Department Mr. Harnett proved himself a popular and trustworthy officer.