CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1926, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

HONEY CONTROL. (To the Editor.) Sir:—ln reading the Wellington Notes in the “Guardian” of Friday last I was surprised to see extracts from a letter written by George Northcroft of Matainui, South Westland, to the “New Zealand Times.” A taste of absolute “Control” by a Board namely tho “Honey Control Board” who have not been given absolute control. Many beekeepers thought that if the honey market was under “Control” that the market would be stabilised and good prices obtained. The Honey Producers Association engineered the formation of the Control Board and got three of its Directors appointed to the Board. Everything in the garden was lovely until the beekeepers got their account sales from London and found that if cost more than double to ship through the llouey Control Board. In the meantime not to make this letter too long and to give the Progress League in Hokitika an opportunity to ask for an enquiry 1 will just ask you to print a few extracts from a letter J, sent last month through the member for Westland, (Mr T. E, V. Seddon), to the Minister of Agriculture in Wellington. Before closing let me sav that for~years past I have advocated the possibilities of Money Production in Westland. In tho your 1924-25 season 1591 Cases of honey passed through Westland's Grade Store and the industry is only in its infancy, hut if the Honey Control Board are allowed to carry on, then the industry will cease. I am, etc., JOHN MCRDOCIT. Ross, June 12, 1920.

ENCLOSURE

The. Minister of Agriculture, Wellington. Hear Sir. —Re Honey Control Board. I wish to duuv your attention to the operations of the above Board which threaten to cripple the industry. Appended you will find a list of charges on CO cases of New Zealand honey which f shipped to London in 1924. These charges average 9s Hid per case from tho Grade Store to London. ’When 1 applied to the Control IHird for a permit to ship 42 cases of New Zealand honey in 1925 (although 1 had a J years contract 'to supply Messrs with tile seasons output, 'only one seasons honey had been” shipped) they declined and compelled me to ship Ihe lot to Messrs A. J. Mills, London. The latter firm chnrgcs averaged £1 Is 7cl against 9s Kid per case when I shipped direct. ’I he Control Board acted as though they possessed absolute control but had the charges been anything like what they were before control, nothing would have been s/iid although one would naturally expect the charges under control would he less. It is unfortunate that the three men on the Control Board are Directors of the Honey Producers Association. This association has never been a financial success and it would lie advisable lor at least tile representative of the Government to be a commercially trained mail, an exporter of experience rather than a Director of lira Money Producers Association. 1 have noticed recently that the price of New Zealand honey oil the London market- has been omitted from the. cabled report of the High Commissioner. IHive we to credit the Control Board with keening this information from producers? in December 1921, New Zealand honey was quoted in London, white at Pss to 92s per < vvt; light amber (:Cls lo 72s per cwt and i would be obliged if you could tell me what while honey was quoted at in October. 1925, when my 42 cases were sold by A. J. Mills and Co. The charges deducted by A. J. Mills on these 42 ciises amounts to £45 (is 4d. that is from Grade Stoic to London. One item for advertising £2O IDs Id is over the odds and 5 per cent commission was charged instead of 24 per cent. hi the event of the Honey Control Hoard wanting absolute control the information contained heroin would tempt you to refuse, preferring to allow one to d;> their own exporting. If an exporter Am show that he can place, liis honey on the London market costing an average of 9s ltd per case and the Control Board want £1 Is 7d per case, \ c-nisidor you would be quite justified in giving a permit to do so. - GRADE STORE TO LONDON 1024 HONEY, «0 CASES. (Shipped prior to Control).

£ s d To Freight 15 10 4 Insurance 7 0 TjHiding, wharfage, etc. 0 9 8 Commission, 21 per cent. 4 <> Q 29 13 4 GRAT)E ISTORR TO LONDON 1925 honky, 42 casks. (Shipped under Control). £ S d To Freight Landing, housing, load11 4 f) ino* 4 13 G Font n 10 Advertising. Id per lh 20 19 4 Commission 5 per cent, 7 17 3 45 0 4