BEES AND APIARIES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1781, 20 June 1913, Page 3

BEES AND APIARIES.

CONFERENCE CONTINUED. EXPORT TRADE DISCUSSED. Tho conferenco of Now Zealand beekeepers was continued yesterday morning, Mr. C. A. Jacobsen presiding. The first business was consideration of tho amended constitution, and on the motion of Mr. A. Ireland (Canterbury) this was adopted. Tho name of tho association now becomes tho National Bee-keepers' Association of New Zealand. Mr. Geo. Ward (Porirua) read a. paper on "Honey Export to the Old Country," in which he emphasised combination as a necessary first step. This would do away with petty competition. The second point to -be considered was the arranging of a given' place where honey for export could be sent and graded. It should be packed in new tins,- 361b. contents, and a distinctive label should be put on by the Government grading experts, showing tho different qualities. He suggested they should givo the High Commissioner * fiee hand to appoint some well-known firm in London as sole agents for New Zealand honey. An annual price should be fixed. Mr. Ward's firm,conviction was that the agents in England were having a good time in beiner able to purchase honey at -Id. a lb. It should, ho urged, bo made lnw that no honey should be exported unless in the authorised tins. Mr. E. G. Ward (Canterbury) said it wa9 an established fact that they had already an export trade, along the lines suggested. Ho did not think they should restrict themselves only to the London market. There was honey produced in New Zealand which might be altogether unfavourable on tho London market, but might find a ready sale-elsowhere. Mr. Jacobsen: When we started the export trade we found London not tho best port to land our lioney at. Tho West' Coast of England was found to be tho best, and at present we land our produce at Liverpool. Wo have reliable agents there, but have not yet got a return from them. Queen-rearing. A paper on "Queen-rearing" was read by Mr. E. Stewart (Crookston). The paper dealt mainly with the question of Italianising the apiary, and suggested that in tho first instance Italian stock should bo secured from someone of established reputation. In getting queens by mail it should never be lost sight of that they night be permanently injured, in somo cases by rough usage, but principally by getting chilled. Queens should havo lengthy wings, as queens with short wings would givo bees poor flying powers. Tho speaker favoured the raising of queens and drones from colonies that cither did not swarm, or when forced to swarm, kept at full work piling in tho honey up to tho minute of coming out.

Sir. A. Ireland (Canterbury) questioned Mr. Stewart on chilling; of bees.

Mr. Stewart replied that queens that vere chilled would be all right for a time, but would, perhaps, die in a week or a month, but would never bo of use for moro than three months. Foul Brood. An address on "Foul Brood—lts Scientific and Practical Aspects," was given by Mr. R. Gibb (Wyndham), who stated that 110 had made a considerable study of wild hives in New Zealand. He had always found that the bees wcro clean when away from 011 infected area. The diseaso had been discovered in New Zealand in 1868, and it was the true foul brood, or American foul brood, and not black brood. Continuing, Mr. Gibb dealt with tlio spread of tho disease, and some of tho cures. Mr. W. E. Barker (Canterbury) read a paper on tlio same subject, dealing mainly with the possible origin ' and spread of tho disease. Considerable discussion followed, and Messrs. Gibb and Barker were accorded a vote of thanks. Railway Rates. Mr. R. W. Brickell (Duncdin), in dealing with freight charges on the railway, showed liow butter was carriod at a much smaller charge than honey. The charge for ono ton of honey over 100 miles was Jil 6s. 6d., and for ono ton of butter 14s. Gd. The measurement of one ton of honey was approximately 33ft., whilst tho measurement for butter was approximately 501't. This meant that for every four tons of butter that cach truck would carry, six tons of honey could be packed in tho same spacc. Tho freight charges for beehives wero .£1 13s. 7(1. per ton, and i'or butter boxes ,£1 os. 9d.

After discussion, Messrs. J. Allan, L. Hutchinson, 11. W. Gilling, and Brickell were appointed a committee to wait upon the Minister for liailways, to point out the discrepancies between tiie rates charged on honey and butter, and urge that the rates should be revised to provide a more equitable charge. Other Matters. On the motion of Mr. W. B. Bray (Banks Peninsula), seconded by Mr. Ireland, a resolution was passed recommending the incoming executive to consider a schemo of co-operation for the whole of the Dominion, and to.report within six months. Mr. W. B. Bray, delivered an address on the financial aspect of exporting, and dealt with tho question of commission charged at both ends, insurance, advance on shipments, etc. He considered the association could do away witlv a lot of commission charges at the New Zealand end, by conducting their own export business. They could also effect a saving by adopting rouud tins and round cases, when packing. Messrs. Allan, J. Cotterill, Gibb, and Bartlett Miller wero appointed a deputation to wait upon the Primo Minister to request his assistance in placing: on the Statute Book amendments to tho Apiaries Act, as decided on by the conference. A motion moved by Mr. J. B. Adams (Poverty Boy) was carried, urging that the Apiaries Act be amended in such a way as to empower apiary inspectors to deal with apiaries where honey was produoed under insanitary conditions. Tho following resolution was alsoi carried, in tho closing stages of the conference:—"That tho attention of the Minister for Agriculture be drawn to tho resolution passed at last annual meeting re compulsory registration of apiaries, but that the fee of 2s. 6d. therein proposed bo raised to 55., the money so Taised to bo spent upon an up-to-date experimental bee-fann, with an otiicial in charge, who is a qualified queen raiser." Tho conference will resume this morning.