asked the Minister for Supplies if there is any prospect of getting sugar sufficient to keep bee stocks alive during the coming winter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Sugar for Bees.
As already announced on several occasions I do not propose to grant special allowances of sugar for bee feeding during the coming winter.
Is the Minister aware that there is a continuing danger of very considerable bee stocks being killed during the winter for want of some sort of feeding and, inasmuch as these bee stocks will produce far more sweetening matter in the form of honey than they would consume in the form of sugar, would the Minister not consider it to be good economics to provide a modest supply of sugar and thus secure additional supplies of honey?
In the early period of the present year, I was continuously pressed by beekeepers to permit of the resumption of the export of honey on the ground that there was a supply far in excess of what could be consumed here. Since March of the present year official notices have appeared in the Press every month reminding beekeepers of the decision that sugar would not be available for bee feeding and advising them to retain sufficient honey for that purpose. I have no reason to think that the majority of beekeepers have not followed that advice.
In the event of certain beekeepers finding themselves without the necessary sugar or honey with which to maintain their stocks, will they get supplies of one product or the other, or will they be helped by the Department to get an adequate supply of feeding in a form which will meet their requirements?
I do not think we can take responsibility for that. The decision not to provide sugar for bee feeding was arrived at last winter. Under considerable pressure from the beekeepers, I agreed last winter to provide sugar for that purpose. It was intimated to them, however, that it would not be provided this winter. There was no evidence of a shortage of honey. On the contrary, there was every evidence of a surplus of honey, and the beekeepers were advised, not merely by communication, but by repeated advertisements in the Press, to retain sufficient honey for the feeding of their bees this winter.
Is the Minister satisfied, if a beekeeper buys honey now from some honey dealer, that that honey can be made to take the place of sugar in keeping bees in health during the winter?
I understand so. Honey is the natural food of bees.
I do not know, but I am assured they require sugar. If it appears that honey purchased from merchants who have a redundant stock is not an adequate feeding stuff for bees during the winter, will the Minister consider this matter again?
But it is an adequate feeding stuff.
I assume from that reply that, if it is not, the Minister will take this matter into further and better consideration.