SOAP-MAKING

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2172, 30 August 1907, Page 1

SOAP-MAKING

A PROGRESSIVE LOCAL INDUSTRY. At this moment when the Lynda Soap-making and Trading Co. is on the way to successful flotation the subject of soap-making should be of interest to readers. Accordingly a representative of the “Times” waited upon Mr. Kimbel and obtained from him the following facts concerning this local industry and its prospects. Its initiation was due to the discernment of Messrs AVilliains and Kimbel, who seeing the 'fine businesses built up at Napier and-elsewhere, and noting the splendid field ol enterprise which l Gisborne and the Poverty Bay district afforded, coinmonsed operations at the lyaiti Soap Factory a couple of years' ago. The results justified their expectations, far there wore unlimited supplies of raw materials—i.e. tallow—obtainable, and thgv have gradually worked up a connection and placed a good article on the market. Having prep .wed the uav fot estblisliing the enterp-iso on wore Comprehensive lines, the cor rent is now being floated into a company with a view to “opening-cut.' lie proprietors, commencing m a small way, had the usual prejudice against local manufacture to coigcnd With 111 the first instance, but perseverance and merit eventually won the day and now the -well-known “Lynda soaps arc to be found in all th© local retail houses throughout Poverty Bay, and meet with a ready sale. That with operations on a large scale, still greater success will be attained seems unquestionable. The factory is quite a little hive of industry, but so tar the output has been confined to a. few lines. Tho principal trade of course is done in tlio ordinary hard soaps in bars; there are several qualities, which compare very favourably with tho imported (and higher priced) article. Soft soap is in request-' by the trifty housewife, who finds the neit lib tins indispensable for "enoral purposes. In bulk also, soft soap is sold by the cwt. to larger consumers, in barrelled form. oandsoap for the kitchen is another staple lino, niucli used for polishing and scrubbing purposes and valuable lor its cleansing properties as it contains a. percentage of carbolic. In handy quarter-pound packets a good extract, also soap powders, are purveyed. A glance through the factory discloses a well selected, and to the. uninitiated an unique, plant. Briefly stated, the boiling down of the material is done in the upstairs department, and the liquid mass is brought by flues into a series of frames situated on the ground floor. The tallow is brought to tlio proper consistency and treated in a three-ton boiler for the “bard” soaps, and m a one-ton boiler for tho soft soaps. There are six soaps frames, each with a capacity of half a ton, in which the product is further 'treated, 'according to variety and quality. "Without going into detail it will suffice to say that tho various processes ' aro dependent upon a great assortment, of appliances, including a large caustic tank used in dissolving sodas; a tank for boiling tlio tallow before refining; a ro-melting tank utilised half way through the process; several hundreds of drying trays; tables for cutting the plastic mass into bars; silicate tank, disintegrator; etc. The motive power is supplied by an eight iiorse-power tubular boiler,. and la six horse-power steam engine. A Tangyo pump draws tho water supply at -the rate of 250 gallons per hour. AVrapping and boxing tho finished product is done on the premises, and there are all appliciances for boxmaking first hand. Hoists with a capacity of one ton are deftly fitted in and reduce heavy fitting to a minimum. ’ In short the establishment is admirably equipped, and built on sneli plans as will advantageously admit of additions. Horses and vecliiles for the wide-spread de-

livery are kept. But this equipment though fairly complete, limits the output to a few lines. AI ore capital is needed to branch out into the manufacture of other goods, and a perusal of the potentialities suggests that the new company has a bright future. That “there’s money in soap” is demonstrated by the affluence ultimately attained by many concerns starling in a small way. This is a rising district, tlie proprietors have alreac 1 - placed a saleable article on a. growing market, the supply of raw; material is unlimited, and yet the 'list of marketable commodities which an up-to-date factory of this kind can turn out lias been barely touched. Toilet soaps have not yet had a trial. “It is reasonable to suppose” says Air. Kimbel, “that there will be a fair output of this class under a company’s management. Candles! Will the people not favor a first-class article made in Gisborne once local prejudice is removed ? This branch alone should be a big asset in capable hands. In no industry extant is there such a range, of possibilities for the bye-products. Provision can be made lor the manufacture of axle-grease, a. natural incidental to a factory of this kind. Blacking comes under tho same category, and starch, blue, soda crystals, etc.', are all within the range at an expert’s hands. One is so allied to tho other that there are no insuperable difficulties. For Instance, blue is imported in hulk, and why should it not be pressed into the every-day “knobs,” here as elsewhere? The backbono of the soap and candle business—‘tallow —is at band iji abundance. Sheep farmers send in : fat in small quantities either in oxs change for the goods manufactured , or for outright sale. There are two freezing works prepared to sell at a ( reasonable figure any desired quani tity, the minimum being five-ton lots. - Auckland has no better facilities, ex- ; cept in regard to a larger market; the trade of Poverty Bay and the - Coast should bo the new company’s > legitimate claim- ’’And,” said Air. r* Kimbel, with emphasis, “it will ho.”

An entirev new branch —that ol wool washil ,i—is - also .to be inaugurated. Tlio present proprietors have frequently been ,ashed why they did not embark upon wool-washing, it being pointed out that those who bring in their loads of tallow would also semi- in skins - lor treatment. Lack of plant was their reply. This will be obviated by the formation of -a . company. Bone-crushing, and tho manufacture of cement and manures are side-lines of a potentially extensive business. It is also proposed under the now regime to conduct a steam laundry or laundries as -a separate adjunct of the company. It is claimed that there is a need in Gisborno'for something of the kind, with a central depot in town -which; could servo the dual purpose• of> registered office promises. This proposition, of course, is opeip to re-consideration according to the view’s of the shareholders.

For those/)who desire “a safe investment” -the-;Coinpany appears to .hetljh’ out excellent; prospects. /-#■•- Tfjg capital of I tlio Company 1 ., .for the 'fireS-ent; consists “Of EojOOO shares of £1 each. The .vendors are to be paid £I,BOO, consisting of 1,000 fully paidup shares (an- indication of their faith in the-venture), £2OO cash, and £6OO due on a promissory note six months after tho-registration of the Company. Three hundred shares will be devoted for commission,' etc., and the balance of 3,700 shares-arc for public subscription, 2s 6d on application, 2s 6d on allotment,- and calls not to exceed that" amount.. The minimum number of shares on which the Company will proceed to allotment is 2,000. Conservative people are apt to look askance at 1 a new proposition, but it is understood that a large number of tlio public of Gisborno have already decided to become shareholders. The- progress of tlio enterprise should undoubtedly assist the prosperity of the town.