HONEY INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1925, Page 1

HONEY INDUSTRY

GOOD EXPORT YEAR. BIG DEMAND AND GOOD PRICKS. WELLINGTON, April 1. A n important and rapidly-developing industry in New Zealand is that of honey production, and from inquiries made a bright future is in store for beekeepers. Some interesting information on the subject was gleaned from Mr E. A. Karp, chief apiary instructor of the Ag r icultur a 1 Department. STEADY progress. “Bee-keeping.” ho remarked, “is making steady progress in Now Zealand in lino with the other producing interests, and our exports this year are likely to exceed last year's total by some 200 to 300 tons. AYe anticipate that we shall send overseas this year approximately 000 tons of honey. “Generally speaking the crop has been a good one, and the honey lias already been graded at every grading port ready for shipment, The producing season has closed now, and we are about to commence export.” Asked the reason for the big estimated increase in exports this year, Mr Karp said: “There has been a better season in some districts, and the consolidation of prices on the Home markets has also been a factor in stimulating production. "THE HIGHEST PRICE.” “New Zealand commands at Home the highest price of any honey that reaches England, and our product ave- j rages from about £2O to £3O a ton over the best- Californian variety. This is due to the grading system in force in New Zealand which is very slrii The specific gravity of the honey i ing assured under our system, the buyer is on a. pretty good footing, as be knows that the honey he buys will keep for a considerable period after its arrival. The present ruling rates for our honey at Home arc from 65s to 90s per cwt., which is a good and profitable basis of values for the producer.

“Before we introduced grading into the Dominion and made it compulsory, honey was packed.in benzine tins, and there was no uniformity either in colour or flavour. Under the present system honey is packed in 561 b and GOlh tins, and these are scaled ho fore the ease is closed for export. Honey is subject to atmospheric conditions, and in view of this the tins, as far as possible. are made air-tight. This ensures that the produce arrives Home in firstclass condition. EVER-GROWING DEMAND. “Yes,” said Mr FArp, in reply to a question, “there 'is a. growing demand for New Zealand honey, not only in England hut on the Continent. The latter favours the darker varieties. “We arc looking forward to a big development of the industry. Every year shows a marked expansion in production, and this is due to the system of inspecting apiaries, the information that is spread among bee-keepers as to ilic host methods of production and also to the system for the control of disease. All these factors are reflected in the increased production.” ETGITTTNG DISEASE. Asked about the prevalence or otherwise of disease in apiaries. Mr harp said: “There is a certain amount of disease in existence, hut in many disI riels this is l»-i"g hroiighl under ™nt |n! through Ihe syslema lie system of inspection adopted by the department. We hope that in course of time disease will he eliminated. Every season we are adding to our elean areas, and during the past year or so there lias been a general improvement in the conditions in aniaries in New Zen--1:111(1/ 9 TDiscusMtm tlio gwwili of "tho menu?try. Mr Farp remarked: “The turn of I lie fide for boo-kcepers took place after the passing of ihe Apiaries Act in 1908. since when conditions have steadily improved. Prior to that legislation conditions in the industry wore verv uncertain and unsettled.” Mr Earn was not prepared to express an opinion on honey control. Iho board that had been set up would be making its policy known to the indusliy in due course, and lm had no comments to make on the subject.