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Zealand Smallholder journal announced that the patent rights granted to Dr EJ Dyce for the “processing” of honey had been revoked.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.

The cessation of the HPA as a stabilising agent on local pricing was immediately felt. One packer was offered 10 tons of 92 point honey at 2½ d per pound. The situation was so bad that even with the disappointments and the liabilities in the windup of the HPA most of the larger producers formed a new association – New Zealand Honey Limited.

The 20^th Annual Conference was held on 18 and 19 July in Wellington, with Mr PA Hillary in the Chair. The Association’s finances were in a perilous condition, and the conference photograph shows a small attendance of members.

Mr CA Pope (Springburn) elected as President. Mr WW Nelson (Otorohonga) was elected as Vice President. Executive elected were Mr Mr LF Robins (Temuka), Mr W Watson (Geraldine), Mr PA Hillary (Tuakau) and Mr HR Penny (Taranaki).

The New Zealand Smallholder magazine, the official organ for the NBA, did not reflect the change in officers for almost a year, continuing to show Mr PA Hillary’s name in the masthead as NBA President.

Following conference some Waikato beekeepers proposed setting up a private honey marketing company. Mr Wallace Nelson reported that following a meeting with the producers, they had agreed to join in with NZ Honey Ltd. Mr Cooper of Auckland resigned from the NZ Honey Ltd Board of Directors in favour of Mr B Clark, a Matamata beekeeper, which helped to bring the Waikato beekeepers “into line” with the new company.

Another challenge to the new company came from a group of beekeepers calling themselves the Provisional Honey Inquiry Committee. Mr Henry Geddes (Rotorua, Chairman), Mr W Walsh (Tokoroa), Mr EA Waters (Ngaruawahia, Mr YH Benton (Featherston), Mr John Murdoch (Westland) and Mr WB Bray (Leeston) comprised the committee. They sought to have an inquiry into the affairs of the NZ Honey Control Board and the NZ Co-operative Honey Producers’ Association (in liquidation).

The Imperial Bee brand was owned by the HPA up to the point of liquidation, at which point it became the property of the creditors. In 1933 the Unemployment Board made advances to the Export Honey Control Board which were then loaned to NZ Honey Ltd. This £6,000 sterling advance was used to secure for the industry the goodwill and trademark of the Imperial Bee brand honey.

By late 1933 the number of producers backing the new company had increased. Mr Walworth, New Zealand’s largest producer with 2,400 colonies, had joined the company. December was fixed as the date for NZ Honey Ltd to start business.

The Honey Export Control Board announced that the first payout for Top White Special honey would be at 3d per pound. Three hundred tons of the previous season’s crop had been sold in England within three months of the arrival of the consignment there. It was hoped the final payout would reach 4 ½ to 5d per pound for Top White Special grade. The Board was working in a difficult position as it had to clear the HPA’s existing stocks from the packing depot before the new season’s crop arrived.

Though economics of the industry were not particularly sound, bee colony numbers grew for the third year in a row, to 110,635, and a total of about 7,500, an increase from the mid-1920s.

On 26 July, at a meeting immediately prior to Conference, the HPA placed itself into voluntary liquidation. At a subsequent meeting it was decided to reorganise co-operative marketing under a new company. Mr J Rentoul, Chairman of the Board of Directors, presided at the meetings

The new company was to be called New Zealand Honey, Ltd. It would have a share capital of £12,000, to be allocated on the basis of five £1 shares per ton of the producers’ whole crop, estimated on an average of three years’ production.

One-tenth of the first year’s crop was to be retained toward liquidation of the share capital plus deduction of one-tenth penny per pound on the whole of that year’s crop. Shareholders could be obliged to supply up to 50% of their crop to the company.

Provisional directors of the new company were Mr J Rentoul (Chairman), Mr SD Cooper (Auckland), Mr AB Callick (Dunedin), Mr F Smith (Palmerston North), Mr LF Robbins (Temuka), Mr W Nelson (Otorohanga) and Mr HR Penny (Taranaki).

The 19^th Annual Conference was held in Wellington, in the the Chamber of Commerce Hall, on 27 and 28 July, with Mr PA Hillary in the Chair.

Mr Hillary characterised the previous season as having two outstanding features – the failure of the honey crop and the failure of competitive open marketing. Price-cutting had been so serious that again beekeepers were almost unanimous in their determination to organise marketing to stabilise prices at an acceptable level.

Mr PA Hillary (Tuakau) was re-elected as President and Mr CA Pope (Springburn) re-elected as Vice President. Executive elected were Mr GL Hight (Hororata), Mr W Watson (Geraldine), Mr W Nelson (Otorohanga) and Mr HR Penny (Taranaki).

In a paper presented to Conference, Mr W Nelson of Otorohanga proposed first proposed the use of a ‘seal’ to be fixed to containers of honey sold as part of a marketing association. Advertising the “Sealed Honey” would assure the public of superior quality while providing to the beekeepers the stability of the marketing organisation.

As 1932 drew to a close, the NZ Honey Ltd settled into take the place of the HPA. Weaknesses in the previous association were identified, and the new group attempted to fix them. Articles of Association were drawn up and contracts signed by members to supply definite proportions of their crops and sell at not less than the Association’s listed prices. Members also agreed to affix a seal indicating a paid levy of 1/2d on each pound of honey sold by them directly. Three Acts of Parliament, the Restraint of Trades Act, the Trade Union Act and the Anti Trust Act, had to be taken into account when forming the articles. The results were somewhat contradictory and there was doubt about whether they could be enforced legally if members chose not to keep their agreements.

Mr Robert Gibb, former President of the NBA, died at his Menzies Ferry, Southland, home in September 1932. He had been the first appointment as a North Island inspector in 1907, which he did for two years.

In December 1932 the Honey Control Board met and decided to take absolute control over all honey exported to Great Britain, Irish Free State, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The Board would ship all honey to these countries and the payments pooled, with payments made by grade.

An unnamed Waikato beekeeper (Mr TJ Mannix of Waihou, Thames?) secured a crop of 75 tons, a record for New Zealand.

There were 99,855 colonies of bees.

Mr EW Sage and Mr PA Hillary were elected to the Board of Directors of the HPA.

The 1931 Conference was held in Christchurch on 17 and 18 June. Mr PA Hillary (Tuakau) was elected President of the Association, with Mr CA Pope (Springburn) as Vice President. Executive elected were Mr W Nelson (Otorohanga), Mr AH Davies (Hamilton), Mr GL Hight (Hororata) and Mr W Watson (Geraldine).

Discussion at Conference centred on a proposed honey local marketing act. The act was intended to give the powers of the Honey Control Board to all local honey sales. The bill had been “put into form suitable to New Zealand conditions” by Mr J Rentoul and Mr PA Hillary. It would also be used to create an “equalisation fund” to encourage exports.

Mr JR Butland, managing director of Butland’s Proprietary Ltd, Auckland, was appointed the Government Representative to the Honey Control Board replacing Mr TE Clark after his resignation.

Another item discussed at Conference was known as “the Robins Case”. Bees belonging to Mr LF Robins of Temuka had stung two horses to death. The NBA backed Mr Robins and even sought an opinion as to whether to take the case to the Supreme Court, as it “struck to the vitals” of the industry.

Kevin Ecroyd’s photograph appeared in an advertisement in late 1931. He and his sister were shown being supported by a sheet of medium brood foundation!

The 1929/30 honey season was the worst for 15 years, probably only one third of the previous season’s record crop. There were, at the time, 88,716 bee colonies.

The 1930 Annual Conference was held at the Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s Hall in Auckland from 15 to 17 July. The Conference was presided over by the President Mr R Gibb assisted by Secretary Mr A Ecroyd.

During Conference, scenic flights by aeroplane over Auckland and the harbour were arranged and a number of the beekeeper visitors to Auckland went up.

Mr R Gibb (Menzies Ferry) was re-elected as President, and Mr PA Hillary (Tuakau) as Vice President. Executive was Mr JN Schmidt (Turua), Mr AH Davies (Hamilton), Mr E Woods (Rangiora) and Mr W Watson (Geraldine).

Conference discussion centred on the questions related to local market. Viewpoints on the actually handling of honey differed (should individual brands be allowed, or should there be a central depot?) but the majority of opinion seemed to be that some form of controls were required to maintain the price and reputation of honey.

With two record crops in 1927/28 and 1928/29 and a world depression, the HPA had a difficult year. The low export (about 50 tons) for 1930 was anticipated to allow the next season’s honey to go forward to a practically bare market. C and E Morton had taken over as agents for the HPA from Mills and Co. following a trip to England by Mr J Rentoul, Chairman of the Honey Export Control Board.

The Weed Process machinery for the manufacture of foundation was installed by Mr A Ecroyd at his foundation making factory in Christchurch.

While in the earlier period HPA members had been loyal in not competing with their association, by 1929 HPA members were using the Association for the disposal of honey only when it suited them. The loss of the higher return on the local market made the HPA more and more dependent on the export market with its lower returns. In order to attract more suppliers the HPA increased their advances, while at the same time both local and overseas prices were beginning to deteriorate.

The 1928/29 honey crop was estimated at 1,050 tons. In total 1,041 of honey were exported.

The London agents, AJ Mills and Co, were beginning to worry over the financial outlay involved in paying advances on such large crops. They were also experiencing difficulties in making sales.

Based on the previous success of advertising campaigns, the Government agreed to provide assistance of £9,000. The change of Government did not alter the position, and the money was duly paid over to the Honey Control Board to provide for increasing export sales.

The 1929 Conference was held in Timaru on 5 and 6 June, with the Vice President Mr PA Hillary in the chair. The local marketing scheme backed by the HPA and the NBA (called the “contract scheme”) was again discussed, including an alternative scheme proposed by Mr WB Bray, primarily involving advertising to increase local consumption.

Mr R Gibb (Menzies Ferry) was elected President, with Mr PA Hillary (Tuakau) as Vice President. Executive elected were Mr AH Davies (Hamilton), Mr AR Clark (Matamata), Mr LF Robins (Temuka) and Mr WB Bray (Barrys Bay).

Mr PA Hillary’s paper on “How to Procure Good Queens of Proved Producing Strain” won the Hopkins’ Memorial Essay Competition.

In July Mr WB Bray began publication of “The New Zealand Honey Producer” magazine, having announced the idea at the conference the previous month. The cover had a photograph of Mr Isaac Hopkins, Mr Robert Gibb and Mr WB Bray, taken in about 1907. Mr Bray announced the motto of the journal as “Better Beekeeping, Better Marketing”, the first use of that phrase within the industry.

The Napier Earthquake had struck on 17 June. To initiate a fund to help the affected beekeepers “make a new and successful start in a more favoured district”, the magazine announced the gift of 200 pounds of foundation wax.

By the time of “The NZ Honey Producers” second issue, there were only 26 paid up subscriptions!

In August 1929 Mr PA Hillary and his wife proposed to the Auckland Central branch that a local beekeeper’s paper be produced. In late 1929 they began publication of “The Alighting Board”.

The HPA had a total of nearly 1,200 shareholders. Efforts were made to get 75% of beekeepers to sign agreements to either sell through the HPA or as agents of the HPA at a uniform price to be fixed periodically, and in uniform packages.

By August, it was claimed that 50% of the 75% had been signed. In fact 250 out of the 1,200 required only signed the contract. When it failed to achieve the required number, the provisions were not longer binding on those who did sign.

The hope was that if the majority of beekeepers would refrain from competing with the HPA, prices could be stabilised. Advertising (at the rate of 1/2 penny per pound of honey) could be used to increase consumption, with all honey consumers paying for it, providing security and stability to the market.

The HPA was in a difficult position and announced that the advance payout for the coming season would only be half of that paid out the previous season.

In the 1929 calendar year the HPA sold 198½ tons in bulk and packed 376 tons.

The 1927/28 honey crop was one of the largest ever experienced. In total 1,029 tons were exported. Many producers sent their entire crop into the grade stores for export, as the local market prices were still low with some producers quitting at any price obtainable, just to get rid of the their surpluses.

By April The Apiarist was being published as part of The New Zealand Smallholder magazine.

Conference was held in Hawera on 29 and 30 June.

Mr R Clark (Matamata) was re-elected President. Mr PA Hillary was elected Vice President. Executive elected were Mr AH Davies (Hamilton), Mr EW Sage (Ohaupo), Mr CA Pope (Staveley) and Mr W Watson (Geraldine). Mr A Ecroyd remained as General Secretary.

A committee was set up at Conference develop a local marketing scheme that would work to stabilise the price-cutting that was ruining returns on the local market.

In the 1928 calendar year the HPA exported 177 tons in bulk and packed 325 tons.

The local market was fully stocked with honey, resulting in severe pricecutting.

The 14^th Annual Conference elected Mr R Clark as President, and Mr CA Pope as Vice President. Executive elected were Mr A Bates (Kaponga), Mr AH Davies, Mr R Gibb (Menzies Ferry) and Mr GL Hight.

Revised Apiaries Act.

The first true Thin Super foundation was produced in New Zealand at the “Acorn” factory.

Mr R Clark (Matamata) was elected as President. Mr CA Pope (Stavely) was elected Vice President. Executive elected were Mr R Gibb (Menzies’ Ferry), Mr GL Hight (Hororata), Mr AR Bates (Kaponga) and Mr AH Davies (Hamilton). Mr A Ecroyd was Secretary of the NBA.

In 1927 the HPA sold 155 tons in bulk and packed 249 tons.

In the 1926 year the HPA sold 377 ½ tons in bulk and packed 206 tons.

Mr AH Davies was elected President, with Mr R Clark as Vice President.