HONEY EXPORTERS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20495, 11 May 1938, Page 13

HONEY EXPORTERS

COMPENSATION WANTED LOSS OF GOODWILL ASSETS The question of whether the Government was going to compensate exporters of honey who had lost assets in goodwill through the taking over of the industry by the Internal Marketing Department, was raised at the annual meeting of the South Auckland branch of the National Beekeepers’ Association in Hamilton yesterday. The matter was raised by Mr T. H. Pearson, who suggested that exporters had built up valuable assets of goodwill by the establishing of recognised brands and the making of contacts with overseas buyers. He added that If the exporters were to forgo compensation for the assets they had lost, the Government was doing them an injustice. Goodwill had been built up at some considerable cost to the exporter, and he was entitled to payment for that asset. Mr W. Nelson, chairman of the Honey Control Board, said he assumed that a statement would be made at the national conference, but Mr E. Sage contended that the Government should have explained its attitude. The following remit was passed for consideration at the conference of the National Beekeepers’ Association:— “ That the Internal Marketing Department should compensate exporters for the loss they would sustain in losing the goodwill they had built up over a number of years.” Unrestricted Selling A second remit—“ That the national conference should urge the Marketing Department to take immediate steps to meet the problem of unrestricted competitive selling against the Internal Marketing Department by individual producers and proprietary concerns” — was proposed by Mr R. Clark and oarled. That Mr Clark’s viewpoint was shared by the majority of producers was the opinion of Mr Nelson, who said he could say definitely that the Department would not allow conditions as they were at present to continue. He knew that some beefarmers viewed with ooncem the thought of the Government exercising oomplete control of the marketing of their produoe, but he could say definitely that the Industry would be working on a sounder basis under the Internal Marketing Department than under the system at present existing. The election of officers resulted: President, Mr W. Trounson; vicepresident, Mr F. D. Holt; delegates to national conference, Messrs A. H. Davies and T. H. Pearson; committee, Messrs A. L. Pearson, A. E. Deadman R. E. Hansen and T. Horner.