BEES AND APIARIES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1780, 19 June 1913, Page 9

BEES AND APIARIES.

THE CONFERENCE. THE HONEY OUTPUT OVERSEA. Tlio third annual conference of the National Federated Bee-keepers' Association of New Zealand commenced in the Esperanto Hall, Lambton Quay, yesterday. Mr. C. A. Jacobscn (Little River) presided, and thero was an attendance of about forty delegates. The opening ccremony was performed by the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, who said that it was gratifying to know thnt there wero between 11,000 and 12,000 bee-keepers in tlio Dominion. In 1000 tho output was valued at JG22.000, and in 1911) at .£15,000. This year the export would probably be 135 tons. Tho Government did something to encourago tlio industry by means of instructors and inspectors. At present they had grading at the request of shippers, but ho understood thut they wished to have it made compulsory. _ 110 believed that they were of ono mind m regard to tho amendments required to tho Apiaries Act. ~ Mr. Jacobsen said that at present the industry was only in its infancy, but it was increasing at a great rate. He hoped that in tlio future bee-keeping would be found to be a very important part ox tlio work of the Department of Agriculture. Mr. F. S. Pope, representing the Department of Agriculture, said that Mr. Mftsscy* I just beforo his departure for the south, had authorised the speaker to state that he would do what he could to pass the necessary amendments to the Apiaries Act The Export Trade Begun. On tho departure of the Minister, the president resumed the chair, and. welcomed the delegates. Ho said that already tho association had been of some benent j to bee-keepers in arranging for a regular export of honey. To accomplish greater things, it was necessary to work together. Tho annual report set out that tho legislative reforms approved by the last conference. These had been brought under tho notice of tho Government, but so far there had been no legislation introduced. The executive committee had done good work in the way of bringing various matters under tho notice of Mr. T. ,W. Kirk, Director of the Orchards and Apiaries Division of the Department of Agriculture. One of the chief features of the year's work was the establishment of a honey export trade. The president had had this scheme in hand for some eighteen months, and had now concluded arrangements with tho Christchurch firm of Montgomery and U>, for tho oxport of honey to various parts of the world, under the supomsion of tlio federation. The Government, through Mr. Kirk, had also arranged to grade the honey and stamp the cases. This would gain tho confidence of .buyers and create a demand for New Zealand honey. The report and balance-shoot, the latter showing a small debit balance, i\eie adopted. Membership and Branctics.

Mr. 11. W. Brickell presented a report on behalf of the committee set up last year, dealing with tho proposed alterations to the constitution. Tho report provided that an association should be formed, membership to bs oijen to any person interested iu bee-keeping. Local branches of the association might be formed wherever it was eo desired. Ino objects of the association would be tlio furthering of tho interests of bee-keepers,, and the executive should have the general control of the association s business, publication. of reports, advertising of honey> ''it was decided that the .report should bo considered Inter, tit a privato meeting. An Interesting Paper. Ah interesting paper/ "Comments oil Artificial Ripening 'of Honey, was read bv Mr. A. Ireland, who dealt with tho methods of extracting and'npenuig honey, so as best to retain tho volatile aiomo. which made honoy in tho comb more pleasant than that which had beoa extracted for somo time. «tw After discussion, it was resolved: lhat this association discourage the -use of any system .of artificial ripening, or too early extraction of honey." | "Ripening and Marketing Honey." h Mr.'D. Lea (Greytown) read a paper on, I ''Ripening and Marketing of Honey, and in the discussion which ensued Mr. B. Gibt (Wyndham) said that ho believed that it was possible to ripen honey outside the hive, but he didn t advocate it at all/ Boiling the honey in a vacmum tank was tho only method of artificial ripening which he could see that « oj any use. Proceeding, he stated he_ hod seen honey in different parts, of the Dominion, put up in old petrol tins. lie proposed that tie Health Department should, be asked to prohibit the use of was explained that under tho Foods Act the use of snch articles was prohibited under the section dealing with "second-hands containers. The Industry Since 1839. Mr Kirk delivered an nddrosa on the progress of the industry and efficiency of tho present Apiaries Act, and progress of tho industry since tho hrst introduction of bees into New about 1839. A large number of people had then taken up bee-keeping, in a more or less haphazard fashion a foul brood set in, and in about ten time the disease had spread to practically every district, mainly through lack of care taken by tho bee-keepers. In 1905 tho Agricultural Department began to take steps to combat the disease, and Mr. I, Hopkins was appointed inspector. lho Department had dono good work, until to-day the industry was on ft sound footin". ' There was need for improvement, however, as evidenced by tho fact that the™ were 11,000 or 12,000 » New Zealand and only about 200 were

members of the association. As proof of tho activities of tho nKnectors of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Kirk montioned that during the vtar they examined 18,071 apiaries. Dealliig witn the question of adulterated honey ho stated that regulations were now framed by which the Health Department could prevent any aduiteroted honey from being put on tho market. The Depart* ment of Agriculture had enrned out a certain amount of experimental work du£ ing the -year, details of which would be published in the Department's journal. Mr. Kirk emphasised tho need for th# establishment of an export tra<ue> and * ' stanced tho fact that until a propei- export trade was established no good price Tvas obtained for butter or cheese, and the export trade which was courted fruit was having the eame there was no reason why honey should., not bp placed on the same footing. Mr. H. Bartlett Miller (Waikato) moved that tho conforcnce give a hearty vote o thanks to Mr. Kirk for his interring address, and for the Mnhnued and IE tense interest he took indu=t y._ The motion was carried with acclamation. Other Business. On the motion of Mr. Brickell .Messrs. J. Rintaul, T. H. Pearson, R. Gill, and Gilling were appointed a committee consider the Apiaries Act. Mr. Cottorill read a paper by Mr. W. Hooper Teed (Thames Valley) entitled: "How Shoud We Put .New Zealand Honey on the Home Market. On the motion of Mr. .Bricksll a committee of four were appointed to consider tho matter of export of honey, and to make recommendations. The meeting adjourned till this rnorning. _________