1915
While the NBA did not take up Major Norton’s offer, the NZ Co-op Honey Producers’ Association did. Possible returns of 5d per pound, £46 per ton, were talked of. The HPA agreed to increase authorised capital to £3000 and accept other shareholders, enabling it to enter into the contract with the Bristol and Dominion Producers’ Association in 1915 to supply 100 tons of first-grade honey per year for a period of three years.
Patriotic beekeepers were urged to contribute honey for “the distressed poor of the Homeland” early in the year.
In 1915 the grading regulations became compulsory. Exports increased, and the ‘respectability’ of the product led to confidence and increased prices on the local market.
Mr JS Cottrell (Te Aroha) was elected President at the 1915 Conference in Wellington, with Mr J Rentoul (Cheviot) as Vice President. Executive members elected were Mr AC Askew (Manakau), Mr RJH Nicholas (Hawera), Mr WF Barker (Peel Forest) and Mr WB Bray (Banks Peninsula). Mr RW Brickell remained as Secretary, though by early in the following year an advertisement appeared asking for applications to replace him in June 1916.
By late 1915 upwards of 106 tons of honey had been exported to Bristol, in spite of it being a particularly poor season. Major Norton was less than satisfied with the quality of the honey, referring to it as “lovely rubbish”, and writing: “They do not mind an occasional bee corpse, but would prefer rather a smaller quantity in future.”
At some point in 1915, the first “Acorn” process foundation factory was established.