1933
The cessation of the HPA as a stabilising agent on local pricing was immediately felt. One packer was offered 10 tons of 92 point honey at 2½ d per pound. The situation was so bad that even with the disappointments and the liabilities in the windup of the HPA most of the larger producers formed a new association – New Zealand Honey Limited.
The 20th Annual Conference was held on 18 and 19 July in Wellington, with Mr PA Hillary in the Chair. The Association’s finances were in a perilous condition, and the conference photograph shows a small attendance of members.
Mr CA Pope (Springburn) elected as President. Mr WW Nelson (Otorohonga) was elected as Vice President. Executive elected were Mr Mr LF Robins (Temuka), Mr W Watson (Geraldine), Mr PA Hillary (Tuakau) and Mr HR Penny (Taranaki).
The New Zealand Smallholder magazine, the official organ for the NBA, did not reflect the change in officers for almost a year, continuing to show Mr PA Hillary’s name in the masthead as NBA President.
Following conference some Waikato beekeepers proposed setting up a private honey marketing company. Mr Wallace Nelson reported that following a meeting with the producers, they had agreed to join in with NZ Honey Ltd. Mr Cooper of Auckland resigned from the NZ Honey Ltd Board of Directors in favour of Mr B Clark, a Matamata beekeeper, which helped to bring the Waikato beekeepers “into line” with the new company.
Another challenge to the new company came from a group of beekeepers calling themselves the Provisional Honey Inquiry Committee. Mr Henry Geddes (Rotorua, Chairman), Mr W Walsh (Tokoroa), Mr EA Waters (Ngaruawahia, Mr YH Benton (Featherston), Mr John Murdoch (Westland) and Mr WB Bray (Leeston) comprised the committee. They sought to have an inquiry into the affairs of the NZ Honey Control Board and the NZ Co-operative Honey Producers’ Association (in liquidation).
The Imperial Bee brand was owned by the HPA up to the point of liquidation, at which point it became the property of the creditors. In 1933 the Unemployment Board made advances to the Export Honey Control Board which were then loaned to NZ Honey Ltd. This £6,000 sterling advance was used to secure for the industry the goodwill and trademark of the Imperial Bee brand honey.
By late 1933 the number of producers backing the new company had increased. Mr Walworth, New Zealand’s largest producer with 2,400 colonies, had joined the company. December was fixed as the date for NZ Honey Ltd to start business.
The Honey Export Control Board announced that the first payout for Top White Special honey would be at 3d per pound. Three hundred tons of the previous season’s crop had been sold in England within three months of the arrival of the consignment there. It was hoped the final payout would reach 4 ½ to 5d per pound for Top White Special grade. The Board was working in a difficult position as it had to clear the HPA’s existing stocks from the packing depot before the new season’s crop arrived.