GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



producer was at the tender mercy of the 

 buyer, who often played one man against 

 another to keep prices down. 



Seven or eight years ago the idea of a 

 co-operative association to handle the out- 

 put was mooted in Canterbury, but fell 

 thru. Taranaki and Waikato beekeepers had 

 also been trying to establish a co-operative 

 association. The idea took shape in Taran- 

 aki about three years ago, and the New 

 Zealand Honey-producers' Association, 

 Limited, was established. Correspondence 

 bad passed between leading men in Now 

 Zealand; and after a conference held in 

 Wellington two years ago the remaining 

 districts agreed to fall in line with Tarana- 

 ki, and include the whole Dominion instead 

 of following the idea on Provincial lines. 



The aim of the company is to include all 

 honey-producers in New Zealand; and the 

 articles of association have been framed 

 with this object in view. 



One of the chief attractions to the honey- 

 producer is the fact that, instead of having 

 to pay for shares in cash, payment is made 

 by deduction of Vs of a jDenny per pound 

 from the value of the honey sent in. It is 

 compulsory for all suppliers to take one 

 share for each four hundredweight of honey 

 supplied, and power is given to the direct- 

 ors to allot shares on this basis, with or 

 without the consent of the shareholder. 



It is also provided that no shareholder 

 shall compete with the company by supply- 

 ing to the trade. If this is done, the di- 

 rectors have power to forfeit the shares held 

 by the offender. 



Shares may be taken up on a cash basis 

 also, but this has not been done to any great 

 extent so far. 



A contract is in existence for the supply 

 of a minimum of 100 tons and maximum of 

 500 tons per annum for a term of three 

 years to a British firm. One year has ex- 

 pired. Provision is made to continue in- 

 definitely if mutually agreeable. All honey 

 exported is graded by a government expert, 

 and paid for according to grade ; but by 



the selection of a suitable market and ju- 

 dicious blending the lower grades can be 

 handled to the producer's advantage. 



Honey for the local market is standard- 

 ized, and, when necessary, blending is re- 

 sorted to to bring the honey up or down 

 to the standard. 



As beekeepers in all parts of the Domin- 

 ion are becoming shareholders, provision has 

 been made to insure adequate and just 

 representation on the directorate. The Do- 

 minion has been divided into seven honey 

 districts, and the shareholders in each dis- 

 trict have power to elect a director to 

 represent them. 



Up fill now the distribution has been 

 effected thru the ordinary channels — the 

 merchant purchasing from the company, 

 the retailer from the merchant. The most 

 popular package is the two-pound tin, which 

 is packed four dozen in a case. 



The honey is received at the depots in 

 60-pound tins, chiefly in liquid form. Pay- 

 ment is made on the 20th of the month 

 following delivery. 



Unfortunately for the company the past 

 three seasons have been very poor, so that 

 the support given has not quite come n]) to 

 expectations. However, one encouraging 

 feature is that, wherever the company's 

 honey has been introduced, a market is 

 secured. The standard of excellence is high, 

 and merchants prefer to deal with the 

 company rather than individuals, on ac- 

 count of being assured of a continuity of 

 supplies. The honey is sold under a reg- 

 istered brand — H P A. 



Recent reports from the English dis- 

 tributing agent are decidedly encouraging. 

 The company's honey may be obtained from 

 about 3000 shops in the United Kingdom, 

 including all the large stores in London, 

 under the registered brand — N Z HP A. 

 Window displays have been made, and a 

 vigorous advertising campaigii started, and, 

 as a consequence, it is certain that all it is 

 possible to export will find a ready sale. 



Christ Church, N. Z. 



A NATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY URGED 



BY .1. F. AROHDEKIN 



There is very evidently in progress the 

 beginning of a great movement among the 

 beekeepers of America. This movement is 

 in the direction of better markets and better 

 naarketing facilities for honey. Every one 

 is thinking about this subject, which is of 

 vital interest. The exact form which this 

 movement will assume is indeed problemati- 

 cal; but the goal to be attained is plain to 



all. It is not my purpose to suggest any 

 definite plan in this discussion, but merely 

 to outline a few ideas presented by my 

 correspondents, together with some of my 

 own. Below is a letter that is typical of a 

 number I have received. 



Dear Sir: — I am a commercial traveler, 

 and have kept bees as a hobby all my life, 

 and enjoy a few hours among them each 



