1935
The 1934/35 season was very disappointing. Many districts had only half of an average crop. It was estimated the crop would be overall about three-quarters of a normal season’s crop.
Local prices had risen somewhat over the previous two seasons.
Mr WE Barker of Peel Forest died in early 1935. Mr Barker had been a President of the NBA and very active in industry affairs for many years.
The 1935 Annual Conference was held in Hamilton from 18 to 20 June. Problems discussed at the conference included the need for registration of beekeepers and for more control of the local market. Mr A Ecroyd, after 10 years of service, found it necessary to relinquish the office of General Secretary.
Mr JB Butland, Chairman of the Honey Control Board, announced that 4d had already been paid out on honey for the 1934/35 season, and there would be a further ¾ d paid pro rata. This payout was in addition to the payment of £1,475 of principle, plus the interest, on the loan obtained to purchase the Imperial Bee brand. It was hoped to pay off a further £1,250 of the loan before the year finished.
Mr W Nelson (Otorohanga) was elected as President at the conference, with Mr A Ecroyd (Christchurch) as Vice President. Executive elected were Mr PA Hillary (Epsom, Auckland), Mr WG Short (Fielding), Mr W Watson (Geraldine) and Mr L Irwin (Winton). Mr PA Hillary was selected to be the General Secretary, assisted by Mrs E Wendelken (Christchurch).
In late 1935 The New Zealand Smallholder journal announced that the patent rights granted to Dr EJ Dyce for the “processing” of honey had been revoked. Dr Dyce had worked out the exact details for the process of warming honey during the extraction process, then mixing in a quantity of very fine grained honey termed starter. As this method was in wide use in New Zealand, patent rights would have meant New Zealand beekeepers would have had to pay a royalty for their honey to enter Great Britain! The NZ Honey Control Board, which took up the action, received two guineas in respect of their costs.
The high level of export sales by NZ Honey Ltd (through the Honey Control Board) had resulted in a better return to producers on the local market. While prices were not significantly higher, they were more stable with fewer instances of price-cutting.