FARMING & COMMERCIAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2478, 3 June 1915, Page 8

FARMING & COMMERCIAL

NEWS AND NOTES,

THE HONEY INDUSTRY

BEEKEEPERS CONGRESS

EVIDENCE OF PROGRESS

■ The annual conference of the Nati'ona' Beekeepers' Association of New Zealanc I opened yesterday morning in th< Esperanto Hall. The president of th< association (Mr. Jas. Allen) occupied the chair, and there were present the Minister of Public Health (the Hon. E. Heatoi ■Rhodes), who,'in tho absonce of tho Prim[ Minister, declared tho conference open, and the Mayor of "Wellington (Mr. J. P Luke). The following delegates were presentsMessrs. Geo. Ward (Porirua), E. Stewart (Crookstou), J. C. Hobbs (Hauwhaka), F. C. Barnes (Normanby), H. W. Gilling (Matapu), J. Boss (Eoxton), Mrs. I. Palmer (Feilding), Miss Meek (tower Hutt), Messrs.- L. I*'. Robins (Temuka), W. 11. Barker (Pool Forest), E. J. Pink (Ohau), J. Rentone (Cheviot), E. G. Ward (Christchurch), W. H. Teed (Waihou), L. Bowman (Christchurch), C. J. Clayton (Peel Forest), li. W. "Warcup (Hawera), C. A. Jacobsen (Little River), A. : Ireland (Christchurch), Hugh M'Kay (Rockvilie), E. Simpson (Geraldine), C. A. Granger (Waihou), W. L. Bird (Manakau), R. J. H. Nicholes (Hawera), A. 11. Davis (Hawera), J. W. Brown (Normanby), S. C. Ehodes (Riwaka), J. Crist (Daiine,Tirke), J. C. Cooper (Monzies Eav), Allan -Bates (Ifaponga), W. Parrant (Lower H-utt), E. \Y. Bickell (Dunedin). An apology for absonco was received from a vice-president (Mr. J. S. Cotterell), on account of ill-health. A motion was passed regretting his absence, and thanking him for what he had done in tho past. Address by Mr. Rhodes. Mr. lf.lioui.-s, in declaring tno conference open, said tuat Air. iVu=sey had asked him to express his good wishes to the association and to state that he (Mr. Jiassey) would give careful consideration , to tho recommendations of the association. Continuing, Air. Rhodes said that : he was interested iu the reports of Mr. 'lvirk, which showed that tho industry was progressing ■in Now Zealand. He learnt tliere !were 11,200' beekeepers in New itealand representing 72,310 hives. Tho export industry was advancing, and the Government was pleased to give assistance through its graders. The wellbeing of the 'industry' was largely due to the Honey Producers' Association, who had entered into an export contract for -an amount up to 500 tons per annum. . With reference, to the . work of the Public Health Department, Mr. Ehodes said that samples of honey had been taken at grocers' shops by officers of the Department, and submitted to the Dominion Analyst and other Government ■ analysts. The results'went to show that the contention of expert beekeepers was juite correct in asserting that 26 parts per centum of water, as allowed by the regulations under the Sale of Food and Dj'ugs Act was too high. The officers of nis Department were considering the results of the analyses with a view to seeing what figures should be placed in an amending regulation. It ■ was proposed that the figures should be 20 parts per centum, and he would be glad if the conference would express an opinion about that proposed alteration. As soon as a decision was arrived at. he would have an amending regulation put through. •He added that the original regulation was in conformity with that in force in several States of Australia, and approximated that of the United States. Nevertheless, he was convinced from the data placed before him that it would be very unwise to allow for such a large proportion of water as the regulations provided, for. So far the analyses showed that there was practically no adulteration of honey in the Dominion, either by the addition of water or other foreign substance. (Applause.)

Mr, Luke also addressed the meeting-, and said that he would have liked to Tiravo extended a civic reception to the delegates. From the citizens he extended a hearty welcome to the members. He irelcomed tho work of the association because it was another evidence of the varying nature of the industries of tho Dominion

Mr. H. 6. Hill, of the Bristol and Dominions' Producers' Association, also adirlressed the'conference.

Annual Report. I The annnal' report and balancee-sheet we presonte dto the meeting. The report showed that the year had proved one of the most important in the history of tho industry in New Zealand. As directed by the last conference the executive undertook the publication of "The Kew Zealand Bee-keepers' Journal," ■which had been entirely successful. A slight decrease had been'suffered in membership, indirectly due to unfavourable climatic conditions. On the other hand the Canterbury and South Canterbury Association had affiliated.

Tile financial position showed that the

year was commenced with a debit balance of -£20, and that for twelve months a journal had been succc«<fullv published, lieceipts amounted to ,Cl. r i2; cilsii in bankafter payments, to .£l3 lis. 2d. A deficit wa9 shown in the assets and liabilities account. Consideration of Remits. Consideration of notices of motion was proceeded with, and Mr. 1. Hopkins moved : "That a clause be added to tho Constitution for a Dofence Fund for legal purposes to be established and kept separate from the general incomc of the association, and that a levy of Is. per member, a pro rata percentage, should be set aside according to membership of associations. After considerable discussion a-commit-tea was appointed to deal with the matter, and later the committee's recommendation, _as follows, was adopted "That the incoming executive be recommended to seek information from the National Bee-keepers' Association of America regarding their legal defence fund, and report a 6cheme to tho next conference, and in the meantime the executive be impowered to tako such steps as considered necessary in the event of any caso arising." 11 r. Jfooper Toed moved: "That provided satisfactory arrangements can be made with the New Zealand Co-operative Honey Producers' Association, Ltd.,'to subsidise ! the .National Association, members' fees shall be-reduced to a, nominal sum of 1 Ls. Gil. per annum, and that Clause 3 in tlio present constitution relating to financial members shall bo amended to bring them in conformity therewith." Sir. l.oed pointed out that his was a provl- ? loll ii m ° tioD > depending on acceptance by the Honey Producers' Association. After discussion Mr. Teed agreed to withdraw his motion, with the idea of bringing it on at next conference. Mr. Jas. Allan, for the Southland Association, moved and it was carried; "That this association urge that tho registration of apiarie3 be brought into torce at the earliest possible moment." Mt. Kirk, Government Apiaries Inspector, said that it was the intention to have that done. The war bad upset things, but it was hoped that the regulations covering the matter would be gazetted in time for this! to bo done next year. ;

Mr. Allan also moved: "That honey be carried on the railways at the same rate as biitter." The motion wag- carried, and:it was also decided to ask that a "returned' empty" - rate should be allowed over ' the same length of line as packages went on the forward journey. A further motion from the Southland Association was put as follows: "That the Bluff be gazetted as a grading port for honey." This was carried after some discussion. Selling Propositions. H. W. ■ Grilling read a paper on Co-operative Selling Propositions," In the course of which he said that probably the biggest problem the commercial beekeeper, whose crop ran into tons, had 1 to solve, was tho satisfactory disposal, of his crop The day session concluded with a grading demonstration by Mr. F. A. JacobGen, Government Grader. The Department also offered to show grading operations in - the grading store on Saturday morning.