H—3oa

Table 4.—Apple and Pear Averages

HONEY SECTION The production during the last season was a fair one over the whole of New Zealand, but the quantity forwarded to the Division on the voluntary basis was the lowest on record. Contributing factors to account for this are that sugar is still rationed and other sweets and spreads are still short on the market. The public demand for honey, particularly in the cities, has been far greater than the supplies available, producers having had no difficulty in selling direct to the consuming public. This method of sale has given the producer an outlet for honey and a higher return than if he forwarded his honey to the Honey Section of the Division. The announcement that the Division would pay up to 10|d. pro rata, using the current year's seals revenue to make up the difference between 7|d. and 10£ d., was made too late in the season, as many beekeepers had made their commitments for sale and for the purchase of packing-material. The seals collected amounted only to £3,427 2s. lid. It would therefore appear that a large quantity of honey has been sold free of levy. The honey handled by the Section during the period under review was 51 tons, the average grade being 93*616 points. The payment to producers was 7d. per pound pro rata, whilst a further bonus of £4,654175. lid. was paid, this working out at 3|d. per pound pro rata. This small quantity of honey made it impossible for a fair distribution to the retail trade, and sales were therefore restricted to hospitals, Navy, overseas shipping, and the balance was packed for shipment to England. The sales for the season were : Tons. Hospitals .. .. .. .. .. 20£ Navy and overseas shipping .. .. 2J Essential manufacture, &c. .. .. 6§ England (held for shipment) .. .. .. 30 59| The additional 8 tons distributed was honey carried over from the previous year. It was also found necessary to import 56 tons for tobacco-manufacturers —namely, "W. D. and H. 0. Wills; Godfrey Phillips, Ltd.; and the Nelson Tobacco Co.

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— 1940. 1941. 1942. 1943. 1944. 1945. 1946. Estimated, 1947. Assembly Freight and cartage Wharfage Cool storage Repacking and sorting Sundries Total Net market return Less consolidated charge Plus Government subsidy, less profit* Payment to growers Total payment to growers Crop s. d. 0 2-15 0 11-89 0 1-63 0 9-80 0 5-05 S. d. 0 1-98 1 3-91 0 1-16 0 7-59 0 0-64 0 3-26 s. d. 0 3-68 1 3-03 0 0-75 0 7-90 0 0-15 0 3-75 s. d. 0 3-96 1 4-48 0 1-27 0 8-12 0 0-10 0 2-47 s. d. 0 4-17 1 2-42 0 0-63 0 8-10 0 0-01 0 2-35 s. d. 0 3-70 1 3-07 0 0-89 0 7-99 0 0-09 0 2-78 s. d. 0 3-80 1 2-32 0 1-25 0 9-12 0 0-01 0 3-09 s. d. 0 3-75 1 2-61 0 1-47 0 11-36 0 4-39 2 6-52 2 6-54 2 7-26 2 8-40 2 5-68 2 6-52 2 7-59 2 11-58 £ 307,815 £ 337,130 £ 274,415 £ 306,953 £ 319,587 £ 287,178 £ 336,436 £ 228,850 s. d. 7 7-02 2 6-52 s. d. 4 5-43 2 6-54 S. d. 6 4-44 2 7-26 I>© 00 00 s. d. 8 9-23 2 5•68 j s. d. 8 8-54 1 2 6-52 s. d. 8 10-73 2 7-59 s. d. 10 4-28 2 11-58 5 0-50 0 0-23 1 10-89 3 5-76 3 9-18 1 5-82 5 0-17 1 1-73 6 3-55 1 1-38 6 2-02 1 3-30 6 3-14 1 1-54 7 4-70 1 11-34 5 0-27 5 4-65 5 3-00 6 1-90 7 4-93 7 5-32 7 4-68 9 4-04 £ 607,674 £ 742,335 £ 544,567 £ 672,296 £ 957,755 £ 839,321 £ 987,142 £ 720,871 2,420,018 2,648,982 2,107,113 2,261,085 2,583,978 2,258,420 2,551,383 1,543,864 * Export, 1940 = 587,504 cases ; export, 1946 = 281,969 cases.