THE HONEY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 228, 14 June 1918, Page 8

THE HONEY INDUSTRY

BEEKEEPERS' CONFER

The fifth annual conference of the National Beekeepers' Association of Now Zealand was opened in Wellington "yesmlay. Mr. W. E. Barker presidwl. ihero was, ;i huge attendance, includwomen. Tho formal opening of the coufereuco was performed by the Hon. W. I). S. -\ aoDonald, .Minister .of Agriculture. The J'""shir congratulated the association on the iact that (here was ffu excellent ftttemlfliice of delegates.' It indicated tnat tho industry was progressing rapidy. It was necessary at the present lime Jo aim at the highest possible production; food production was as essential ns foldiers,. for without food the soldiers could j,ot fight. In this respect every producer owed a particular dutv to this -liti'.piie. lh.ere was u number of women present'at the conference, and Iw was pleased to see this, as beekeeping was an occupation well suited to women. The industry had made great advances' in the laft lew years, but the war had had certain influences. However, it was clear that tho industry was n good one to invent in. Tho association could, do good by helping returned soldiers who wished to enter, inlo beekeeping. . Soldiers' widows, by tho way, could not do better than go in for beekeeping. I here was a movement in the direction "of securing ;i horticultural station in Wellington, and this station would have an apiary section. Such a station would benefit Wellington, and it would afford for receiving instruction in. various industries. He felt confident: that tho money for this station would be voted. .

The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. V. Luke) welcomed the delegates to the city. He congratulated those engaged in beekeeping on the flourishing condition of the industry. Hβ' remarked that beokeeping wan an occupation particularly suitable for soldiers who had returned from the war and who wished to follow an outdoor occupation. Mr. T, W. Kirk, Director of-the Horticulture Division of the State. Department of Agriculture, said that the Department highly appreciated the work of the forty-four honorary inspectors to whom the thanks of all engaged in the industry lrero duo. ] Mr. F. S. Pope, Secretary for Agriculture, said the industry had nol only grown in point of production, but the quality of the honey had improved. Mr. ,T. A. Tonnjf,'M.P., in a brief address to the conference, stated thnt he would do whatever he could to assist the industry. • The president said that a question the conference could well take into consideration was that of protecting the .interests of the small producers. He warned' debates agaijist allowing fho local storekeepers to give for honev whatever price they considered fit. He urged beekeepers to co-operate.' ' The secretary presented his. annual report tand balance-sheet, showing that there wos a credit balance of jCI-f?. The etatcmeitte were adopted. ' Co-operative Marketing. Mr. .Gilling moved: "That this meeting approve the principle of co-operative marketing, aruf that it be an instruction to the executive Ihut in framing its policy the furtherance of the co-opera-tive movement he the first plaiik in .'its programme." ■ , 31 r.'-Nelson seconded the motion, which was carried. Lectures and Pictures, * A (echnical lecture was delivered bv Mr. A. B. Trythall on "The Work of tho Experimental Apiary, Euakura." Mr. Trythii.ll described the type of hives used at 'Riiakura and showed models. "Honey 'Packages for. Export and Grading , ' was the subject of an address by Mr. Tames Allan. Mr. Allan said that ho thought we were going into our grading- too particularly; that we were analysing a« little too closely. . He demonstrated a method of packing ur export, ami urged that it should bv given a trial. In the evening films of beekeeping and fruit-growing were shown by 11 r. T. W. Kirk and other members of tho Department of Agriculture. The conference adjourned till 9.10 a.m. to-day.