VALUE OF HONEY INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1922, Page 10

VALUE OF HONEY INDUSTRY.

HONEY AS A FOOD.

(By

“Clematis.”)

The small amount of honey that is consumed in the colony, ae against other foods such as jam, butter, etc., is surprising. It happens to -be one of those foods that is so little advertised, and therefore not brought before the public. Taking our population into consideration, the consumption of honey in New Zealand is very small, since it is such a pure, wholesome and cheap food. What is done to bring the industry before the public? Where does one see it advertised? We have the National Beekeepers’ Association, with headquarters at Auckland, the Beekeepers’ Journal, and various newspapers with a column set apart for the doings of the apiary. These keep in touch with the individual beekeeper, (but they do not launch out into an advertising campaign, which the industry has been expecting for a considerable time. I remember when our Avinter shows had some fine displays of honey and products of the apiary. Weekly paper photographers always minimised the value of these displays. The displays certainly gave a good background to the butter and cheese exhibits, the industries fostered by the Government. Several years ago the season’s production of honey was estimated at 1250 tons, and the price, then at 5d per lb, totalled about £60,000. The value of the industry to date would, at the present prices of 8d to 9d, produce a very large sum. The festering of the industry is quite neglected. The work of the busy little bees results in a good round figure, and to the amount must be added the proceeds from comb honey and beeswax. “Eat thou honey, because it is good!” Honey is not only a medicine, but a food, direct from Nature, the nectar of flowers, gathered, modified and evaporated by the bees. No purer or better food has been given to man. There is more nourishment in a pound of honey than there is in a pound of beef steak. Meat contains 65 per cent, of water, besides the fibre, and is indigestible. Honey is 20 per cent, water, and is almost ail digestible, leaving nothing to burden the system. It is far cheaper as a food than butter. Children should be given honey frequently. It aids digestion, and keeps the system healthy. The average price obtained for first grade honey these last nine years has improved wonderfully. •' The New Zealand Honey Producers’ Association is mainly responsible for the good position the industry holds today, combined with the work of the Government graders. An export trade has ibeen established that has grown by leaps and bounds, and is well looked after at the London end. In 1913, 21b tins on the local market were worth 8s to 10s 6d per dozen; 1915, Ils per dozen; 1916, 13s fid per dozen; 1917, 15s per dozen; 1918, 18s per dozen, while they are worth 23s to 24s per dozen to-day. There are many localities where bees could be profitably kept and be a good •source of revenue, but until the industry is encouraged and fostered, little expansion can -be expected, and it is one in which the Government could very properly assist, especially those returned soldiers engaged in the work.