BEEKEEPING INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 222, 13 June 1919, Page 6

BEEKEEPING INDUSTRY

ADVICE TO BEGINNERS PROCEEDINGS AT CONFERENCE Yesterday's session of the conference of the National Beekeepers' Association of New Zealand opened Vith a lecturo by Mr. A. B. Trythnll, officer in charge of the Stnto apiary at Euakura, on tho subject of beekeeping for beginners. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Try. thall for liis address was carried by acclamation. Apiary, Boundaries. In connection with the decision urriv, od at on the question of apiary boundaries, Mr. A. Ireland reported that tho committee appointed on Wednesday interviewed tho Solicitor-General (Sir John W. Salmond, K.C.), as to _ the legal aspect of the question of apiary boundaries. Sir John Salmond said that there was nothing' to prevent the association going right ahead to obtain the necessary legislation defining boundaries and the regulations governing same. ' All that was necessary was to get the Gov. ernment to take a. favourable view of the cast. Tho speaker stated that Di. , Beakes, Director of Agriculture, had also been seen, and he was favourable impressed with the whole scheme, lie suggested the formation of a special committee to go into the question of preparing the Bill, and Dr. Keakes would be prepared every assistance. Mr. F. C. Horit said that the com mitten had a patient hearing from the .Solicitor-General and Dr. Eeakes, who were intensely interested in the welfare of the industry. They saw that the association was out for the legitimate protection of the commercial beekeepers' interests, and they were prepared to give every assistance to formulate a scheme.to protect the industry. He. then moved u motion to the effect that no bees for commercial purposes be allowed to be removed to another area without the permission of tho Apiary Department. Mr. J. B. Adams (Poverty Bay) supported the resolution, which was carried. Messrs. Ireland, Horn, and Cottorell were appointed a committee to frame the necessary Bill.

. Misleading Statements, Mr. J. B. Adams strongly commented on the misleading statements which had appeared in the Press indicating that the beekeeping industry was a get-rich-quick occupation, and generally an easymoney proposition. Such tactics he condemned as most unfair, particularly when they influenced returned soldiers. " Mr. J. Allen' said-that the a ; ssociatio'u had decided that it would not encourage returned soldieis, generally to tako up beekeeping unless they possessed a knowledge of the industry. Mr. Adams said that he did not blame the associatjon. He took objection to an article in the association's journal which was misleading as to the money to be made out of the industry. He had been in the beekeeping industry since 1883, and experience had 'proved to him that it was not the easy-money-making business the article claimed. There wero good and bad seasons. It was not right to suggest that returned soldiers should be given a small area of land to run an apiary—they 6hould be given sufficient land to take up some other work, such as fruit-growing, so that should the honey season be bad, they would have their fruit to i'all back on. ''The best; we cau. do is none too good for those who fought for us," concluded the speaker, amid applause.

Use of Petrol Tins for Export,A practical demonstration of the use of empty petrol tins and eases for the export of honey was given by Mr. C. A. Jacobsen. of Little .River, Canterbury. The top of the tin was cut out, the tin thoroughly cleaned, and a new lid soldered on. The case was then cleaned, and should be stamped. Ho .went through the whole process, and claimed that it was by far the cheapest method of packing honey for export. Thousands of these cases and tins were wasted annually throughout New Zealand, and he advocated their, collection and use for the purpose named.

Other speakers spoko favourably on the scheme, but Mr. Jacobsen, julir., honey grader, said that there was .no guarantee that every beekeeper would clean his tins and cases and put them up as neat as - those of Mr. Jacobsen, senr. No objection could be taken to (ho petrol fins which had been thoroughly cleaned, but as soon as sufficient tin was available the use of petrol tins would bo' prohibited.

Mr. Jacobson moved that a deputation be appointed to wait, on Mr. Kirk, chief of the Horticultural Department, and discuss the matter of the uso of the petrol tins for the export of honey. The use of these tins was only required for another year, when it was expected that sufficient new tins would be available. The motion was carried.

The relative functions of the Honey Producers' Association and-the National Beekeepers' Association was the subject of an address delivered by Mr. J. Allen (Dunedin).

Qualifications of Local Inspectors. On behalf of the Auckland branch of the association, Mr. Horn moved a remit to the effect that tho association, in conjunction with tho officers of the Horticultural Department, should draw up a system of examination for certificates i'or beekeepers, and that no local inspectors f.hould be appointed unless they held certificates proring competency End a practical knowledge of beekeeping, and that all certificates at present in possession of local inspectors be cancelled. Tho speaker, in support of the remit, said that some of the appointments were ■ made without reference to the qualifications of the individual appointed. Men who know notjiiiiß about foul brood had been appointed as local inspectors. A further remit regarding local inspectors was moved by Mr. J. B. Adams, of the Poverty Buy Association. The remit read: "This association desires that the powers conferred on local inspectors be explicitly defined in regard to tlie efTcctivo carrying out of the Apiaries Act; also that fuller power be given to local inspectors to deal with box hiyes, and that they be empowered to seo that all combs, brood, etc., be destroyed or removed from access to bees." Tho speaker claimed that ho agitated for tho appointment of local inspectors, and with all,due deference to the permanent staff of the De,partment, the local inspectors had done really good and hard work.

Mr. T. W. Kirk said that, the thanks of all- beekeepers in New Zealand were due to the local inspectors, ■ who had helped the, Denarfmont through a very trying time. While there might be one or two local inspectors, devoid -of tho necessary tact, he could say that they had done great work. Every man appointed j was either well known by the apiary instructors or was recommended by the local Beekeepers' Association. The speaker hinted at the possibility of more permanent inspectors being appointed. After hearing Mr. Kirk's remarks, Mr. Horn ■ withdrew his remit, find Mr. Adams's remit was received.

Mr. W. B, Bray, Southland, moved a remit to the effect that the Department be asked to npnoint. two additional inspectors for the South Island to cope with t)»> growth of the industry.

. Mr. J. Allen suggested that all local inspector? should be dispensed with, and that the Department be asked to appoint an additional four permanent insnpotors. _ It was decided to ask for four additional inspectors.

State Apiary for Southland,

■ The matter of a State aoiary for Southland was urged by Mr. W. B. Bray, who said tlrat the growing interest in the beekeeping industry in the South rendered it necessary tlmt there' should be some State institution for training purposes. There we;e tiro State Apiaries in tho North Island; and lie moved a motion to the effect that the Government bo urged to establish a State institution in the South Island. The motion was carried unanimously. It was decided to 'recommend to the National Executive to hold the conference in Oliristclmrch next y«ir. The conference adjourned till 10 o'clock to-day.