DISCUSSION 



Mr. L. Illingworth (Cambridge) gave the following brief 

 account of the proposed Foul Brood Insurance scheme. 



On July 8th, 1936, a Society named Bee Diseases Insurance, 

 Ltd., was registered Under the Industrial and Provident Societies 

 Act, with Dr. A. L. Gregg as chairman. Dr. F. Thompson and 

 Messrs. B. C. Berkeley, C. W. Bowell, W. E. Hamlin, J. E. 

 Swaf&eld, and C. Wilkinson as Directors, and myself as Secretary. 



A circular letter describing the aims and objects of the Society 

 has been sent to every Beekeepers' Association in Great Britain. 



It is too early to predict what response the Associations will 

 make to this invitation to join the scheme, as most of them will not 

 hold meetings to consider the question before the autumn or winter. 

 The Bamet B.K.A. has definitely decided to come in, Cambridge 

 and District will almost certainly do so, but Cornwall, Norfolk, 

 Warwickshire, and Worcestershire cannot see their way to join, 

 or propose to take no action at present. 



The scheme is quite frankly an imitation of the Foul Brood 

 Insurance system initiated by the late Dr. Leuenberger, which 

 has proved such a success in German Switzerland, having now been 

 in operation for nearly 30 years. The small committee appointed 

 to draw up the scheme has carefully considered what modifications 

 are necessary for Great Britain, and has prepared bye-laws and 

 regulations covering every department of the Society's activities, 

 as well as providing for the representation of the subscribing 

 Associations, so that each may have a voice in the working of the 

 scheme. These will be laid before a meeting of delegates from 

 the Associations for approval or modification, to be held during the 

 coming winter as soon as it is known which Associations will join. 



This is all the information about the progress of Bee Diseases 

 Insurance, Ltd., that can be given at present. 



In the moment or two that I have left it may be well to outline 

 the main features of the scheme and to answer one or two objec- 

 tions. For fuller information I must refer you to the registered 

 rules of the Society and to the circular letter already mentioned. 



Bee Diseases Insurance, Ltd., is not founded for private 

 profit. After providing a reserve fund sufficient for all eventualities 

 all further profit, as well as interest on that fund, will be used to 

 promote bee disease research, or returned to the Beekeepers' 



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