BEEKEEPERS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16857, 10 June 1920, Page 8

BEEKEEPERS.

-♦ . NATIONAL ASSOCIATION'S CONFERENCE. Tiw seventh annual conference of the Nactional Beekeepers' Association of. New Zealand opened yesterday morning at the Y.M.C.A. ■ There were 90 delegates present. Mr James Allan, president of tho Association, occupied tho chair, « Mr J. A. Campbell, Assistant Director of tho Horticultural and Apiaries Division of the Department of Agriculture, formally opened tho conference. Ho apologised for the absence of Mr T. W. Kirk. Director of the Division, who waa not well enough to h© present. Mr Campbell liopcd that the conference would ho able, to formulate and tabulate in detail .those pressing questions requiring solution.. The Department, g»>ne- / rally -speaking, was anxious to assist Fuch industries as beekeeping, but«the pvople engaged in tho industry were csl'od ut'on to assist themselves. Tho Department ho f-It sure, would assist in all reasonable proposals. . The president, in his nddreiss, said ho ce- . sired to take up a subject that struck at the root of the industry. The greatest hindranco to the industry wag foul brood, and that was what they were up agninst. There were two classes of people in the industry— keepers of bees and beekeepers—and the first namod were thore responsible for foul j brood, and if keepers of bees would not become beekespers they should not bo allowed to keep bees. (Applause.) He did not find fault- with the Department; as beekeepers they_ had not had the courage to face tho rdministratiom of tho Act—'that was where the fault lay. _ Ho urged- that iVto ehovld be a strong agitation for the suppression of foul brood, and for the appointment of a Chief Apiarist, and for an increase in the number of inspectors. He estimated that six well-qualified men were required for the South.lsland alone; the North Island would, probably, require more. The secretary's report and the balancesheet were adopted. The report mertioned the possibility of the subscription to the "New Zealand Beekeepers' Journal" being increased. The balance-sheet ofMlie g< r.eTai account showed a balance to credit of .+265 12a Gd, and the "Jcrurnal" account showed a profit of £16 12s 6d. It was decided to increase the subscription to the '"Journal" from . Es to 6s per annum. Arising out of a remit submitted by the executive, recommending a forward movement in connexion with the- industry', Mr W. B. Bra 7 moved,.and Mr J. Rentoul seconded; "That this conference urges tho Government to make the Apiary Division a separa.to division, under a separate director, responsible to the Director-General direct." Mr A. Ireland moved as an amendment., and Mr W. E. Barker seconded: "That this conference urge upon the Government the necessity for the appointment of a Chief Apiarist, and an increase in the staff of inspectors." After discussion the amendment was agreed to. Mr E. G. "Ward moved, Mr Jacobsen seconded, and it was carried: "That ! ncreased vigilance is necessary to prevent tho introduction of Isle of Wight disease into this country, and that the importation of bees and queens should be immediately stopped.'' After hearing Mr C. F. Eyland, manager of the New. Zealand Co-operative Honey Producers' Association, on the eubject of »ho sys- • tern of grading, it was decided that the- offi- i cers of the Honey Producers' Association, Mr Campbell, and the Government graders present should confer on the matter and re- i port later to the conference. Mr E. A. Earp, Government Apiary In- ' structor, replying to Mr Kennedy, stated j that bos hives in the Annat and other dis-

tricts had been got rid of without tho necessity for prosecuting anyone. On tho motion of 3fr J. Ellis, it was decided to reaffirm that the penalties for breaches of the Apiaries Act be increased to £20; and it was also decided to incorporate a remit from G-reymouth, that tho minimum penalty should bo £2. On the motion of Mr E. W. Sage, seconded by Mr J. Ellis, it v:as deci-.'.ed: "That r.o bees, hivD3, or appliances shall be removed from one county to another without the wiitten consent of the Inspector for the cistrict. The president read an interesting paper on "Honey and Methods of Handling," which I was'discussed at some length. A vote of thanks was accorded the president by acclamation. "Paddling Honey" was described in a paper read by Mr F. O. Baines, tho secretary, who was accorded a vote of thanks. "Beekeeping as I Found it in England," was the title of a paper given by Mr A. R. Bates', a discharged soldier, who was accorded a vote of thanks. A short discussion ensued on the sugges- I tion mads by Miss Shepherd. :<n-j submitted j by tho president, that an endeavour should | be made to breed queen bees immune from ■ disease, and it was decided to thank Miss 1 Shepherd for her suggestion, and to assist her in every way possible. Mis 3 Shepherd said that experiments on ! tho linos sttgjrsstod should be undertaken by j the Government Apiarist. Tho president welcomed Sir J. McCombs, M.P.," who addressed the conference, and suggested that a deputation from Ihe conference J should endeavour to wait on tho members of > Parliament for Canterbury at their next meeting. Mr W. E. Barker read a pap<*r on "Til's Flora of New Zealand nnd its Relation to Our Honey," and was accordcd ' a vote of thanks. Sir E. W. Sage spoke with reference to a statement published widely throughout the Dominion that returned soldiers could make, £8 per week at beekeeping, pointing out that tho statement was misleading, in that it wa3 too Tosy. ' Several speakers supported Mr Sage's views. In the evening there to a. meltcr demonstration and informal discussion. Tho conference adjourned till 10 a.m. to-day. JUST AS GOOD FOR MEN! THE VIAVI WAY TO HEALTH. For men, women, and children, has been established 40 years throughout the English-speaking world. Viavi has been used by thousands of men and women during that time, with surprising results, because it has rendered a real human service in restoring health and happiness to suffering humanity. The Viavi Hygienic Service for reconstruction of the recuperative and resistive power produces curative results for men as well as ivomen and children .through dependable, rational assistance to bodily power _of nervo action and control. It thus effects the removal of tho cause responsible for most of the localised diseases of the bodv by giving specific, safe, and harmless assistance to Nature. Communi- . Aito personallv, or bv letter, with the manager. Mrs" Lilly, VIAVI, CHRISTCHURCH. Established for over sixteen years at 8 Royal Exchange Buildings, * Gatliedral square. > L 5335