history.doc.docVIP

A History of the National Beekeepers’ Association and the Marketing of Honey By Nick Wallingford 55 Watling St Tauranga Ph/fax 07 5781422 Email nickw@beekeeping.co.nz A summary of the events recorded in various industry journals over the last 100 years, with emphasis on the national association and its management, as well as the overall marketing schemes for honey. Journals have been obtained primarily from the National Beekeepers’ Association Technical Library, managed by Mr John Heineman. This version dated 14 August 1999, covers the period from the beginning of the century through until the end of 1945. It is a ‘work in progress’ – it hasn’t been fully edited and isn’t in a completely finished form… TABLE OF CONTENTS The Early Years – First attempts at organisation 1 1905 – Establishment of Ruakura 1 1906 – First Apiaries Act, Government appointments 1 1907 – New Apiaries Act, Christchurch Exhibition 2 1908 – WB Bray appointed inspector 3 1909 – Hopkins quits, returns to Department of Agriculture 3 1910 – Record season for Canterbury 3 1911 – First systematic attempt to export 3 1913 – The NBA is formed 3 1914 – Bristol and Dominion makes an offer 4 1915 – First B D contract is met by the HPA 5 1916 – The HPA falls short in supply due to poor season 6 1917 – Shipping problems, and the B D goes under 7 1918 – The HPA has trouble with competition even from its own shareholders 10 1919 – War ends, but honey prices start to slide down 11 1920 – First conference outside of Wellington 13 1921 – Export markets falling apart 14 1922 – HPA problems continue 16 1923 – Markets remain poor 18 1924 – A low point for marketing and the NBA 19 1925 – Export Honey Control Board established 20 1926 – HPA battles on for its shareholders 20 1927 – Local market pricecutting 20 1928 – Large crop and no places to sell 21 1929 – HPA makes plea for co-operation 21 1930 – Bad season, attempt to re-establish UK market 23 1931 – Desire for local market controls 24 1932 – Proposal