THE HONEY-POT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 331, 17 April 1928, Page 8

THE HONEY-POT

‘•‘l AM no honey-pot!” exclaimed Major-General Sir George 1 Richardson to the newspaper representatives who greeted him with questions on his return from Samoa, yesterday. In these words, Sir George gave it to be understood that he was not a vessel to be sipped for news. Samoa just now cannot he a sweet subject with the ex-Administrator. But since Sir George is hound for Europe in a week or so to give pn account of his stewardship to the Mandates Committee of the League of Nations, he may gladly seize the opportunity to serve New Zealand in his spare time by advocating the consumption of its primary products in Europe. This is a sweet subject. Sir George, sitting down to breakfast with members of the League of Nations, at Geneva, refuses the conventional marmalade, and calls loudly for New Zealand honey. “What—no New Zealand honey? Impossible!” Frantic apologies by the proprietor. Planes fly all over Europe in search of New Zealand honey. Next morning Sir George is served with the nectar he has sought—secured by the best-pedigreed bees of New Zealand from the choicest New Zealand wild flowers. He tastes and smiles—all the delegates to the League of Nations taste and smile. Thereafter it is resolved that there is no peace of mind like that produced by a breakfast of which New Zealand honey is the chief item. Delegates agree with each other during the morning session in the utmost amity; war is abolished—the fame of New Zealand honey spreads to the uttermost ends of the earth. . . . Now is the opportune time for Sir George to act. The stage is set. Yesterday the lonic lifted 1,380 cases of honey for England. Arrangements have been made by the Honey Control Board to distribute this delicious product all over Europe from a large depot in Berlin. Agencies are also drawing supplies in Burma, India, Ceylon, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland; while Singapore, Manila, Shanghai and Hong-Kong are also sipping. All are potentially large markets if properly pushed and no endeavour should he spared to secure advertisement. Sir George has had some experience in the marketing of copra ; he would surely prove an excellent agent for popularising New Zealand honey.