1923
Mr AB Callick was apppointed to replace Mr RW Brickell as manager of the Alliance Box Co, owned by the HPA. Mr Callick had been Mr Brickell’s “right-hand man” in the manufacturing department for the past 20 years.
The first advance from the HPA for the 1923 season’s honey was set at 4½ d per pound maximum.
Prices for Californian honey on the London markets continued to fall, causing concern to the HPA Board of Directors. The Californian Honey Producers’ Co-operative Association failed very badly, losing £45,000 for suppliers, due to bad management. The falling prices were affecting New Zealand honey sales as well.
The HPA Board of Directors sent out a controversial circular letter to shareholders, asking them to dispose of as much honey locally as they possibly could. This was contrary to previous direction, but it was felt that the more that was disposed of locally, the lighter the burden on Mills and Co who were trying to move the backlog of stocks in England.
The 1923 Conference (the tenth annual) was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall in Palmerston North starting on 20 June. The meeting was presided over by Mr AR Bates, the Vice President. Mr EW Sage, the President, was unable to attend due to “family reasons”.
In a turnaround, the Conference voted against the Apiaries Tax that had been supported by previous conferences all the way back to 1913.
Elections resulted in Mr AR Bates (Kaponga) being elected as President with Mr Robert Gibb (Menzies Ferry) as Vice President. Executive were Mr EW Sage (Ohaupo), Mr HN Goodman (Greenfields), Mr TG Clark (Hobsonville) and Mr J Rentoul (Cheviot).