BEEKEEPERS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16858, 11 June 1920, Page 3

BEEKEEPERS.

1 NATIONAL CONFERENCE.

The seventh annual conference cf _the Xa- j tional Beekeepers' Association o£ New_ Zealand Tras resumed yesterday, Mr James Ailan presiding. Air A. Ireland, for Mr K. H. Xelson, read a paper on "Apiary Boundaries," which vr&3 discussed at considerable lengui. On tho motion of ifr K. Simpson, seconded by Mr Ireland, it was decided: "That the Apiaries Act be amended by embodying the following clauses:—(l> The owner of ten hives or more can become a licensed commercial apiaxist within the of tho Act if he so desires, on payment or 2s 6cl per annum. (2) No person shall be allowed to start or establish an apiary on any land other than his own residential property, either leasehold or freehold, without the ] consent oi the Apiaries Division of the De- i partment of Agriculture." The president, replying to a question, saiu that thess would not be tho actual Mr Campbell had informed him that if tho Department approved of them, when _ submitted, they would bo drafted in accoraanco with the desire of Conference. A vote of thanks was accorded the_ committee which had gone into tbo question of apiary boundaries; and a- vote oi sympathy was accorded Mr Nelson in connexion with {ho loss of his apian - by fire. _ , Delegates from one end of the Dominion to ibe other gave their experiences as to the prevalence cf foul brood. The majority testified that it was rampant in tho districts they represented. Mr C. F. Kyland submitted tho report of the committee set up in respect of_ grading. The report statpd tbat eome alterations weTo necessary to make the present system mora elastic to meet the continual.y changing col ' _ ditions of worldwide commerco; that grading and inspection for foul brood were equally essential for the development of the industry: that grading should be done promptly; and that inspection for foul brood !=hou!d be continuous. It was recommended that to the existing classes of honey [ tliero should be added "water white"; that additional inspectors f-hould be provided by tho Department; and that tho duties of | grr.ders be adjusted to allow o£ honey being promptly graded. The report was adopted. On tho motion of Mr iJ. "W. Brickell, seconded by Mr T. K. Clark, it wa3 decided: — "At a largely attended conference of beekeepers of tho Dominion, representative men stated in no uncertain terms that of T own knowledge and personal experience, tho Apiaries Act as at present administered has not accomplished the primary object for which it was placed upon the Statute Book. It is certain that foul brood, tho scourge which costs the beekeeping industry thousands in an attempt to combat it, is Tapid)y on tho increase, due in a largo measure to under-staffing of the Department which has to administer the Act. Ihe annual loss in capital and production due to the ravages of the disease* runs into many thousands of pounds. This Conference submits that, in view of the necessity for increased production, the loss mentioned is a national one, and all reasonable means must be taken to stop the loss. AVo submit, nay, more, we demand, as a right—That the provisions of tho Apiaries Act shall be immediately put into force; that a- chief apiaries' instructor be appointed whose duty shall bo to see that tho Act is carried out; that a sufficient number of field officers shall be appointed to assist him in carrying out his duties; that the sole duties of theso field officers shall be 'the elimination of the disease in the district to which they aro appointed; and that a copy of the foregoing statement and resolutions be placed by a deputation, consisting of the president, secretary, and other members, before tho Eight Hon. the Prime Minister, and that a copy, with a covering letter, bo sent to every member of Parliament, f-hould the Government be unable to gTant the requests herein contained, tho National "Executive and the board of directors of the H.P.A., aro hereby constituted a committee to take such steps as may be necessary to have tho Aniary Division of the Horticultural Department created a separate division under its own director." Mr F. C. Baines read a paper on "Excluders, an Asset or a Nuisance?" and was accordod fi vote of thanks. Mr J. read a paper on "The Honey Production' Industry," and was accorded a, vote of thanks. Arising put of a suggestion made in tho paper, it was decided to set np a permanent committee, consisting of the president, vice-president, and secretary of the National Beekeepers' Association, and the manager and chairman of the H.P.A., to look after the political interests of tho industry. Mr C. P. Eyland gnvo sin interesting rddress on "How the Usefulness of the National Beekeepers' Association can bo Increased." It was decided that tho permanent committee already set up should also take up and deal with matters connected with the industry. On the motion of Mr W. Watson, seconded by Mr Clark, it was decided: "That this Conference requests tho Government to place im annual tax of £1 on each person keeping bees in the Dominion; such lax to be used in payment of additional inspectors for the prevention of foul .brood and for departmental and instructional purposes and appointments." On the motion of Mr Bates, seconded by Mr Bray, it was decided to recommend that the salaries of apiary instructors and graders should bo increased to tho salary paid dairy produce gTaderp. A copy of the resolution is to be forwarded to tho Public Service Commissioners. Respecting the rumour that an embargo is to be placed on the removal of bees from tho Auckland provincial district to any other part of the Dominion, on account of the danger of bees spreading fire blight, it was

decided, in tho event of regulations to that effect being proposed, to ask the- Government to acquaint a committee, consisting or Messrs Clark, Sage, Baines, and Ryland, with tho reasons therefor. In the evening a supper and social gathering was held at the Cadena tea-rooms,. about eighty delegates attending. The Conference resumes at 10 a.m. today.