OUR INDUSTRIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 898, 15 February 1930, Page 6

OUR INDUSTRIES

This is the second of a series of informative articles that will he published in THE SUN regularly throughout the year, describing sorhe of yew Zealand's most important industries. _ .

Wealth From Waste ROAD TARS, PAINT AND DISINFECTANT MADE HERE TO most people one of tlie most fascinating things in science i . the fact that from such a smelly, evil-looking substance as coal tar the chemist can get so many different things—disinfectant, road tars, paint, creosotes, stains, flaked naphthalene, and dozens of others.

It is of Interest, therefore, to know about a company operating here in New Zealand—Restar, Ltd. —engaged solely in this work of tar-refining and tar by-products manufacturing, and reclaiming from waste articles so valuable tc every phase of modern life. This company was formed in Wanganui 15 years ago, just at the time when the Taranaki road engineers were experimenting with the tarsealing of their roads. At that time surfacing of roads was regarded as either a luxury or a sheer waste of money. However, by judicious propaganda work and a series of trials one Taranaki local body after another embarked on tar-sealing programmes, with the two-fold result, that Taranaki is now famed throughout the

Dominion for its beautiful asphalt roads, and the Reatar Company justified its existence as a supplier of reading materials. Now, at the end of 15 years. Restar, Ltd., is a household word throughout tbs Dominion for road materials and tar by-products. Every succeeding year fr-om the beginning has been a record for output and "Reatar” may now perhaps he ranked among fhe most successful industrial concerns in New Zealand. The secret of success no doubt has been “quality” and “service”—that is to say the aim has been to produce the best possible article of its kind and also to meet local body engineers’ special needs in every respect. The company now operates five large plants—Auckland, Gisborne, Wanganui, Wellington and Christchurch. For the local body trade,

the company produces distilled tars of all grades, tar-bitumen compounds (Res-Mex) and a bitumen emulsion (Colfix), and the range is such that all necessities are catered for. Apart from the road-making materials the company manufactures various tar and bitumen by-products for which purpose a complete byproducts factory has been installed at Wellington, as being most central for distribution throughout both islands^ One big feature of this branch is Restar Fluid Disinfectant. This disinfectant has become very popular, especially in the homes of the people, where it is regarded with great favour owing to its non-staining qualities. Here enterprise and faith have been fully justified, as the purification of this disinfectant involved the

outlay of considerable capital in a purifying and refining plant. Restar-Fluid is rapidly supplanting all imported disinfectants and as a consequence an industry is developing that calls for more New Zealand workers to make, to bottle, to label, to pack, to deliver, to- print labels, to make cases and so on—all the money kept and circulated in our own country- The same, of course, applies to the various other-packed lines,- such as flaked naphthalene creosotes, stains, Q.D. Paint, etc. Given equality of price and quality there is everything to he gained by supporting the New Zealand' article, for every shilling kept in the country means twelve pence more for distribution among New Zealanders in the shape of increased employment to men and women, and bigger business

to all touched by the manufacture of a local industry. Notwithstanding solid progress, the Restar Company could treble its output if every New Zealander supported New Zealand production of tar and allied lines. For instance, thousands of pounds are being poured into America for road materials that New Zealand tar distillers could supply and. give equally good results. The same -applies to such lines as disinfectants, paints, naphthalene, creosote, and many other coal tar products which are at present going to waste. PAINT FOR THE HOME The part of the house least seen is the roof, yet it is the most -important portion. Despite its importance, however, it is often neglected until a rain storm finds a weak spot and the householder suddenly wakes up to the necessities of the case. It is not generally realised what enormous amount of preventable waste goes on through the corrosion of roofs, spouting, etc., and it is here that the wellknown New ..Zealand product, known as Q.D. Paint, is of great value, as it has proved to be the most successful roof covering on the market. It is made in reds, browns, greens and black and has been tested out and proved good under the most exacting service conditions. The Black Q.D. Paint is used extensively for the prevention of rust on all kinds of iron work, including bridges, girders, farm implements, motor chassis, etc. For the information of those inter-

ested in technicalities it may be said that the base of Q.D. Black Paint is composed of specially imported bitumens (an asphaltite and a blown bitumen) scientifically proportioned and blended to give the desired qualities of adhesiveness, elasticity, high melting point, durability and resistance to corrosive influences. The paint-base contains no coal tar or pitch and no mineral filler or other adulterant. The solvent in which the paint base is dissolved is a specially distilled highly volatile coal tar naphtha, which imparts, its special quick drying feature to the paint. The paint dries by the spontaneous and complete evaporation of the solvent, leaving behind a tough, inert and durable film of pure bitumens (over 98 per cent, soluble in carbon bisulphide).