BEEKEEPERS' CONFER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 221, 12 June 1919, Page 6

BEEKEEPERS' CONFER

PROCEEDINGS AT ANNUAL GATHERING

TREATMENT OF HONEY

The sixth annual conference of the. National Beekeepers' Association of New Zealand opened yesterday morning at the Farmers' institute, in l'eatherston Street. There was an attendance of about eighty delegates, and Mr. W. Barker, president of the association, presided. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.JI.G.) said that during the war his thought* had been , of the primary industries of the country. Even though he had teen associated with the. secondary industries he was convinced that the progress of tins country must be associated with the the primary industries. He went on to refer to the desire of many returned soldiers to go on the land, and he expressed the hope that the Government would give honest compensation and adequate recognition in tho direction of settling the soldiers. The bee-keeping industry was the oldest in New Zealand, bees being first introduced into New Zealand in 183!). He was glad to note that the. industry was being fostered, and he expressed the hope that tho export trade would be increased and encouraged. He wished the delegates a successful conference and hoped they would enjoy their stay in the city. An observation car would bo placed at the disposal of tho delegates when Tequired. Dr. C. .T. Keakes, Director of Agriculture said that lie had been asked to convey tho Minister's regrets for his unavoidable absence. The speaker took n. considerable personal interest in beekeeping, and it was very gratifying to note that tho industry was making such headway. Hβ had noted partieularly the increasing interest in the industry throughout tne country, and the fact that many people were taking it up. The Department was receiving a larße number of inquiries regarding the starting of new-apiaries, and it was very satisfactory to note that bee-keep-ing was proving a pleasant occupation for pome of our returned soldiers. At the Ruakura Farni there were a number of returned soldiers learning the industry, and one felt exceedingly pleased that the country was able to offer crippled soldiers such a useful occupation. During the war the Departmental staff was increased by a number of voluntary helpers, who rendered valuable assistance in offering instruction to those engaged in the industry, and he desired on" behalf of the Minister to thank those gentlemen for their services. At the Eiinkura Farm a great deal of experimental work had been carried out in tho direction of tho working of apiaries. At the Tauranga i''arm (here was a queen bee-rearing. apiary, and at the present time they had UO colonies and 77 purely mated queens. This. farm had made rapid progress. The speaker trusted that the conference would prove useful and valuable to the 'beekeeping industry. The Export Trade. With regard to (he export trade, tho speaker said that during tho war it had shown an exceptional profit, but even in view of tho cessation of hostilities he did not think producers could have any fear of a very great drop in prices so long as the present high standard of honey was maintained. According to figures supplied by the Customs Department, G6l!)cwt. of'honey, valued at .£32.018. was exported during tho year ended March 31 last. This represented a big increase both in quantity and value, as compared with the previous year. This was due to tho largo accumulations of honey held up in the grading storos for want of shipping space, being got away during the year, and to tho very high prices' ruling at Homo. ■ The following figures show tho quantities of honey exported from the Dominion during the last fivo rears:—

Year ended Value. March 31. Cwt. £ 1915 ■ ' 2,136 1,763 1916 2,390 6.C67 1917 1,572 "3,551 1918 2,010 ■ 7,991 1910 6,619 , 32,018 In conclusion, the speaker said that whilst, producers endeavoured to increase the export market, they should not neglect the local market. He hoped the conference would prove profitable to the industry, andhe assured delegates that iho Department had tho industry at heart. Beekoepcrs' Journal. Mr. T. W. Kirk, head of the State Beekeeping Department, speaking with reference to an article in the association's journal attacking the queen-iwr. ing apiary at Tauranga, stated the allegations were entirely without foundation, and he asked conference to appoint n committee of three to investigate thn charges made by tho editor of the jour, nal. The secretary of the association (Jtr. V. C. Baines), who is also editor of'the journal, proceeded to explain the position, but it was decided to refer .the whole question to the National Executive for investigation. Apiary Boundaries, The desirableness of seeking legislation defining apiary boundaries was advocated in a paper on the subject rend by Mr. A. Ireland. Ho said that it would be a good tiling for the ■ industry if boundaries aould be given to apiaries. He thought that something should be donu to prevent a person encroaching on his neighbour's ground. The difficulty was to detcrmino the boundaries, because of the varying nature of itlie land. However, he did not consider this objection. Tnsumantable. He suggested an area of three miles, and the permits could be granted to suit particular circumstances, as to the capacity of the land to support a certain number of hives. Now that FO many people were .entering the industry, and so many retiuned soldiers were talcing it up, the need for some means of regulating boundaries would bo ever increasing. Ho foreshadowed a lot of trouble and loss from overcrowding in certain districts if nothing were done to regulate boundaries. The .question had been discussed in other countries, but nothing had yet been done to'solve tho question. ' ■•

Mr. R. Gibbs (Christchurch), was cgainst the idea of regulations to decide boundaries. The industry was open to anyone who possessed the essential qualifications to take it up, and he was , of tho opinion that it would lie simply a case of the survival of the fittest. Reference had been made to returned soldiers taking up the industry, and be considered that they had a perfect-right to enter the field of competition. Mr. C. P. Horn.said that already there was a good deal of overlapping, and if that were allowed to continue- a number of the beekeepers would withdraw their money from the industry. He also referred to the existence of a trust, which threatened to kill tho small beekeeper. Instances of their attitude towards the small beekeeper had come under his notice, and the association should 6ee that tho operation of the trust should bo checked. The argument that bees would rob neighbours of their harvest was contrary to scientific investigations, whereby it had been proved that bees in taking the honey from the plants really stimulated their growth. He hoped that special legislation would be introduced io provide for apiary boundaries. Mr. James Allen, vice-president of tho association, said that beekeepers were up against great difficulties, and it was simply a case of the survival of the fittest. To his mind it would be absurd for anyone to Ihink that because he started beekeeping in a district first he should have the sole rights for the induslrv in tho particular district. It would bo useless for the conference to go on discussins; the question, c Mr. Ireland then moved that a committee, consisting of Messrs. Horn. Cotterell, and himself be appointed to wait upon the proper Government authority for the nurnose of discussing regulations on which to base a Biil to be inlro ducod to Parliament. Mr. G. A. Slewart seconded the motion, and it was carried. Granulation of Honey. Mr. R. W.'Brickell introduced thev question of improving the granulation of honey for export, and cited instances of considerable variations in grades which were unexplained. One season producers found that their honey had granulated hard, and the next season was quite soft. The position was unsatisfactory both from, the point of view of tho producer and tho companies exporting. Ho suggested that the Gov-

ornmont .should be urged, now that tho industry was developing, to conduct a ceries of experiments to find out whut was at (lie back of this varied grade, and to ascertain whether it could be controlled bv tho beekeeper, lie moved that the Department of Agriculture have the necessity of conducting a series of experiments in the treatment of honey urged upon it. This was carried. Tho next question lie referred to was the water in the honev, and he moved that the department be urged to conduct tests of honey under vacuum. to decide whether the water contents could be reduced? and v.'liat effect such Irentnient would- hftve on the aroma of the honey. The motion was carried, and the speaker further moved that as many honeys jranulate slowly and after a considerable time were still too --oft for export the Department should be asked to recommend what slops should be taken by beekeepers to improve tho density of the honey. The motion was carried. Crystallisation of Honey. The picsident read a paper on tho crystallisation of honey, explaining the results he had received from many tests tarried out. He did not see why honey suffering from soft granulation should be prohibited from export if in other respects' it met 111? grade tests. During the discussion which followed it was slated that arrangements had been made with the Department to send two or three cans of liquid honey Homo with a view to ascertaining the effect the voyage had on it. and whether it would meet with a reads, market. Land for Apiary Sites. Suine criticism was directed against tho Government in selecting an apiary site in the Otway Settlement in Te Aroha district, and the Agricultural Department was also adversely criticised for the delay in the granting of allotments to to applicants. The secretary (Mr. V, C. Baines) said that the apiary site in the Otway Settlement was not suitable for beekeeping, and in any event tho land surrounding the blqck had been exploited to the full. The speaker also cited his , personal experience in applying for a t-ection of this block, and was told that tho Department was unable to consider the application because the conditions for occupying these apiary sites had not been framed. Others had met with similar experiences. Hβ moved a motion to the effect that the' Lands Department be urged to introduce the conditions for securing these sites at once. Tliis motion was carried. Mr. W. B. Bray introduced tho question of special land legislation to improve the status and prospects of the lioney producer. He proposed that if a beekeeper required certain suit-able laud for an apiary lie should have the. right to purchase this property outright, and have the backing of the Government to enforce the sale if necessary. Landowners in many cases objected to Hie apiarist coming in, and he thought that legislation should be passed to enable the beekeeper to go on to the land on a .freehold basis. The speaker moved that the Goye-ninient be asked to bring down legislation enabling the Lands Department to acquire land for bona-fide beekeepers where, required. ' The motion I was lost on the voices. '

The conference adjourned till 10 o'clock this morning.