BEEKEEPERS CONFER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3104, 7 June 1917, Page 10

BEEKEEPERS CONFER

/AN AMPLE MARKET FOR ALL THE HONEY PRODUCED '.'•■% The annual conference of the New Zoa- " land Beekeepers' Association was opened .''"•'at tho Esperanto Hall, Lambton Quay, ,M 10 a.m. yesterday. Tho chair was oceu•','vled by Mr. J. Kentous (president), and thero was a largo attendance of delegates. _. , ".'ln. opening. tho conference tho Secretary of tho Department of Agriculture tilr. P. S. Pone) said they had met un- ' der'somewhat peculiar conditions owing to; the fact of tho secretary (Mr. Bray) haying been called into camp and to thero being a good deal ©£ uncertainty .a'Oo whether ho would bo able to get leave to enable him to attend tho conferonce. In tho mcantimo ho gathered that tho executive was in a good deal of trouble on account of his absence. After roferring to tho valuo of tho annual conferences of persons engaged in such jn- : :dustries, Mr. Popo said that tho beekeeping industry had made great strides • in New Zealand and was now on a far ".better footing than formerly. That was to a great extent owing to the fact that several of these conferences had taken ■place. Another factor was the work don« by the Government through (ho Departiment of Agriculture. They had in Mt. "T. W. Kirk, Director of the Horticui- % t.ural Division, a gentleman who had always taken a great interest in the l»e industry and who had dono what ho could to advance it. Then thoy had four . instructors whise '■whole work • consisted in viiitr ing beekeepers and helping thqrii" (in overy possible way. Tho work done iby fhoso gentlemen had had a very considerable effect in helping the industry. The passing of tho Apiaries Act had •been of. the greatest assistance also' in enabling the Department to compel beekeepers to keep their bees under reasonable conditions. Difficulties in regard to grading had gradually beni overcame, and be was certain that if they cxerfisnd patience they would find the grading scheme working satisfactorily. The . apiaries at the Experimental Farms'were

[D NOTES.

now under the direction of tho Horticultural Division, and he was certain that they would bo of great-use to the industry. In regard to the future, tho first matter that the Government had in view; and which was likely to be brought into effect at an early date, was tho registration of all apiaries throughout New Zealand. The process would bo simple, aud would greatly assist tho instructors in llioir work. Another matter that tho Department had in mind was tho establishment of a queen-rearing apiary, which would bo located at Tnuranga. The conference would also bo called upon toconsider the question of looking after the boo farms of men who had gone to tho front; and lie was. further, looking forward to a number of ouv returned soldiers going in for beekeeping. Means would have to be found to train them for tho work. There was room for any number of brckoepers in New Zealand If tliers were ten times or a hundred times tho present number it would lie better for all of them. There was no fear of over-production. Tf was perfectly certain that there would be an ample market for nil the honey wo can produce not-onlj abroad but in New Zealand, and at thoroughly remunerative prices. Ho wasJookinir forward to a big increase in the industry in New Zealand. It was going to be of very great importance as a secondary industry. (Applause.) The president, in the course of a brief address, said tin past >ear bad been a. lean year, but he thought thev bad reached the limit, of adverse conditions, and the prospects for next season were tetter than they bad been for the past four years. It was. he added, a strange thing that tins year in New Zealand there is a bigger demand for honev. at increased prices, than' ho had ever known before. Some of the Remits. Tho matter'of the control of apiaries belonging to men called to the colours was. considered at some length, and finally a suu-eommiltto was appointed to dralt a. scheme.

On behak of Southland, Mr. Allen moved two remits, iirst, that a chief apiary intsructor bo appointed for the Dominion, and, second, that conference should again urge that tho registration of apiaries be brought into force .is quickly as possible. In doing go, ho particularly emphasised that registration was now iwaorative,

The first remit was carried unanimously with the addition ot tho words: "In. addition to tho present staff." The other remit was altered to read as follows: "That this conference protests agamsl the continual dclav in bringing into force the provisions of tho Apiaries Act concerning the registration of apiaries, and appoints a deputation to wait upon tho Minister of Agriculture." &l this form it was carried amidst aowlause, and the members of the deputation were appointed.

. Another-remit weed that land set aside by the Lands Department for beekeepiug should be permanently retained for that purpose even if it was not immediately taken up. This matter was alei reform! to a deputation. There nrfll ue a meeting of shareholders of the Honey Producers' Association at 10 a.m. la-day. and the conference will resume <it 2 p.m. There will be a. session this even hi" 1 in the Oddfellows' Hall on Lambton Oiiay.

ADDINGTON MARKET By Telegraph—Press Assoointilin. Christchurch, June 6. At the Addington market there were larger entries of fat cattle and fat sheep, but a small yarding of storo cattle. Other classes were represented in about the same proportion as last week. There.' was a good demand for store sheep, especially wethers, of which a considerable pro]iortion of tho yarding consisted. Pat lambs sold well, and at better average prices per head than last week, but at practically no change in value per lb., tho lambs being of rather better finality. There was a keen demand for tho large yarding of fat sheep, graziers competing for unfinished lots, and paying up to 2Ss. for wethers. Thoro was a poor collection of storo cattle, mostly old co.ws. The yarding 'of fat cattle was a very largo one, and there was a. good demand throughout, and tho sale, though irregular at times, was much firmer towards tho. close. Thero was a. fairly strong demand for export. Pigs sold well, as did dairy cows. Store Sheep.—Two and four-tooth ewes. 2(is. M. (o ;iss. 6d.; four and six-tooth ewes, to 285.; six and eight-tooth ewes, 275. 3d. to 355. 6d.; sound-mouth ewes, Us. 6d. to 275. Id.; two and four-tooth wethers, 28s. sd. to. 315.; four and sixtooth wethers. 2fls. Id. to Ills. M.; six and eight-tooth wethers, 255. ,'ld. to Sis.; wether lambs, lis. lOd. io 205.; ewe lambs, 20s. (id. to 255. 10d.; lambs,' Ms. Od. to 245. 3d.; mixed sex fat lambs, extra prime, (o .las. Ud.: prime, 2Ss. |o 325.; medium, 255. to 275. Gd.; lighter, 21s. to 21s. (id. Pat Sheep.—Extra prime wethers, to 151s 3d.; prime wethers. 325. lid. to 415.; lighter. 28s. to 325.; extra prime merino 'wethers, 38s. Gd. to 40s. 9d.; prime merino wethers, 225.. sd. to 285.; extra, prime owes, to lis. 6d.: ewes. 345. to 38s. (id.; medium owes, 20s. to 3.35. Gd.; lighter, 225. to 28s. Gd.; merino ewes, IBs. 3d. to 17s. Pat Cattle.—Extra prime steers, Io .tSil 10s.; prime steers, .£l4 to .£2O; ordinary steers, .£lO to ,£l3 Ills.; extra, prime heifers, to ,£ls 17s. Gd.; prime heifers, .£lO to £H 55.; ordinary heifers J/8 to £0, 155.; primo cows, to £U 55.; ordinary cows, J;!) 7s. 6d. to .£lO Ss. Store Cattle.—Pif teen to eightcennionth steers, £R; two-year heifers. .£5 17s. lid.; three-year steers, «£!): throeyear heifers, ,£9; dry cows. £A to .-ED; extra good springers, to .£2O. Pigs.—Choppers, £i to £?; extra heavy baconers, to 10s.; heavy baconers, £1 ss. io Jii 155.; lighter baconers, .£3 12s. to •£•)., equal to 7.U1. per lb.: heavy porkers, GOs. to GBs.; lighter porkers, 48s. to Ms., equal to l)d. to Aid. per ib.; medium stores, ,335. to ■Ills". 6d. : smaller. 225. to 305.; wcaners, 10s. to 15s.