DOMINION HOUNEY

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 16 June 1933, Page 9

DOMINION HOUNEY

VALUABLE FOOD SUPPLY.

■REVITALISING POWER-

PALMERSTON N., June 15. A tribute to the high standard of New Zealand honey, and its value as a food supply, not only in the household, but for expeditionary purposes, is to be found in the fact that Commander Byrd included a quarter of a ton of it in the food supplies for the last Antarctic expedition. New Zealand honey was also included in the stores of the Anglo-American Himalayan exploring party. 'ii." Reference to the subject was made by Mr D. S. Robinson, apiary instructor to the Department of Agriculture to “The Dominion” at the' National Dairy Show at Palmerston North today. Ho had been judging the honey, exhibits, which were >of <i very high standard, and would, he said, hold their own in competition anywhere. Owing to the food value ond. the stipulating qualities, Mr Robinjon drew attention' to the fact that when Commander Byrd was undertaking his last Antarctic exploration he saw fit to take over a. quarter of a ton of New Zealand honey among his food supplies. “The public should realise ithat the question of food supplies is consideied very carefully by such expeditions before going into unknown lands,*’ said Mr Robinson, “for it was a matter of the strictest necessity that such parties should avoid carrying food supplies the food value of which was small. From that the public may judge something of the valuable' qualities of honey. • “In the recent Anglo-American Himalayan expedition, the food supplies of the exploring party were stolen by tribesmen, but fortunately the marauders missed several jars of honey which the explorers were' carrying. In a letter sent to the New Zealand Honey Producers’ Association, the organiser of that expedition said that the party lived for ten’days alone on that honey, and that the association would no doubt be interested to learn that it was New Zealand honey, as was that carried in the Antarctic expedition, Mr Robinson further stressed the value of honey on the field of athletic sports and games. Now that the football season was in full swing, its stimulating and invigorating qualities should be brought before all -trainers and coaches, and at half-time instead of the usual orange and sometimes alcoholic stimulant, the teams should be given a drink of warm milk and honey or orange juice and honey, or one or two spoonfuls of -honey itself. As it was a pre-digested food and therefore no tax on the digestive organs, it was quickly absorbed into the system, giving warmth and restoring vigour to fatigued players. Honey 'was also commended for cooking purposes, especially in cakes, as it greatly improved the keeping qualities and added to its flavour. “In these days of limited spending power,” concluded Mr Robinson, ‘ ‘ the housewife should realise -that iu buying honev she is not only assisting a primary industry, but is getting an article containing food value not in other products. Honey as a food can be used by persons of all ages. It has not only a strengthening effect, for it co.n----i tains minerals in a palatable form which I ar.e essential to growing children and adults for the maintenance of good health.”