175 



Commission visited the works in January. Opportunity 

 was taken to exhibit side by side with our genuine soaps 

 certain filled soaps from other countries, and soaps 

 specially faked in our own factory, containing less than 

 20 per cent of fatty acids instead of 60 or more as in our 

 genuine soaps, yet in appearance, smell, etc., of a charac- 

 ter which would entirely deceive ignorant purchasers ; it 

 is perfectly easy to make soaps of fairly good appearance 

 which are not soaps in the proper acceptation of the word 

 and are not worth even the cheap price which might be 

 put on them. 



29. Laboratoiy. — It was not found possible to form 

 a laboratory on account of war disabilities, but small 

 quantities of apparatus and re-agents were, by courtesy 

 of the Indian Institute of Science, lent to us, and these 

 have been of value. With a fairly good laboratory we 

 could satisfactorily answer references made to us, as in 

 the year, by business firms and others, deal with our 

 daily problems in testing the oils and materials which 

 we use, and, above all, test the adulterated oils and fats, 

 incliiding ghee, now used as edibles, and the soaps now 

 supplied to the public. 



30. Several applications, some well supported, for 

 admission to the soap works as students were received ; 

 but for the present it was impossible to accede to the 

 requests as we are still in a very experimental stage, 

 and, moreover, have no facilities for teaching. This must 

 stand over for the present. There have been many 

 visits, however, by the public such as bodies of students 

 from the Agricultural and Forest Colleges at Coimba- 

 tore ; from various Arts Colleges outside of the district, 

 and from all local educational institutions includino" 

 girls' schools. Various Government officials also visited 

 the works, including the soap expert and an engineer 

 from the Department of Industries, Mysore, who were 

 permitted to spend several days taking drawino-s of 

 the various items of plant, especially the toilet soap 

 machines. 



31. The soap is readily saleable, and many applica- 

 tions have been received for sole agencies, and even for 

 our whole output. But I have, in general, adhered 

 hitherto to the plan of selling direct to consumers, 

 generally on the value-payable parcel system, for which 



