HONEY EXPORT CONTROL.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1926, Page 4

HONEY EXPORT CONTROL.

(To tlie Editor.)

Sir, —Having just read Mr George R. Northeroft’s remarks re export charges on honey in your Wellington column of Juno 11th and Air John Murdoch’s letters published on June loth and 25th., 1 would ask you in fairness to the Board and for the benefit of the producers generally to publish in full Air Afurdocili’s complaint to the Minister of' Agriculture and my reply thereto. Air Murdoch, by some oversight, has omitted in his letter to you of June loth to include those figures which show how he has duplicated his charges. His letter of June 25th can be passed over. The annual meeting of the. Cooperative Honey Producers’ Association, of which-he gives portion of the copy of a report, was largely attended by producers from all parts of the Dominion and the fact that the mover of the motion he refers to could not find a seconder, speaks for itself. Air Murdoch’s reference to the Government representative on the Board is misleading. Mr T. E. Clark, the Government Representative, has more money in the honey production business than anyone else in New Zealand, as well as being a principal in one of the biggest business concerns in New Zealand. The attitude of the small opposition that has arisen with regard to control of export is easy to cinderstand. The honey export business has been built up by the producers spending money and effort in creating a name fqr New Zealand honey in the United Kingdom, with the result that a price has been obtained approximating) that of the price of English 'honey. Your correspondent and one or two others have in the past been taking advantage of that price without paying any portion of the cost of getting it. it is intended that the Board shall thoroughly investigate the system oT marketing they have adopted and steps to this end are being taken. It is fairly obvious, however, that if the present system of marketing were abandoned, advertising stopped and sales made on an open market, New Zealand honey with nothing to commend it or safeguard a definite standard, would fall hack into line with Californian, Canadian and Jamaciun honeys and the f.o.b. export price on the present market would not average more than 3}d per lb lor our better grades. It is not claimed that all beekeepers are making 29} per cent in their business as Air Murdoch’s accounts show, but in average honey districts their returns, at present prices, show bigger earnings on their capital than any other primary producers!

I am, etc., JOHN LENTOUL, Chairman Honey Control Board

[ENCLOSURE.]