Occasionally

NZ's Only Copra Mill Occasionally A Bolt And A Spanner

From J. P. Shortall, in Auckland

All of the copra produced in

New Zealand’s Cook Islands and

Niue, and some of the copra

from Samoa and occasionally

Tonga, finds its way to New

Zealand’s only copra mill, oper

ated by Abels Limited in

Carlton Gore Road, Auckland.

MANY an Islander or ex-Islands resident of Auckland has had his thoughts turned Island wards by the unforgettable smell of copra borne across town on the not-always-tropical breeze.

The factory was established by a Sydney master baker, George Handson Abel, in 1920, but it was not until 1939 that copra crushing machinery was installed.

When first established the factory manufactured oleo margarine from beef fat.

In 1931, Abels installed a hydro genation plant. This process raises the melting point of fats and oils and gives them greater stability. With that equipment in stalled the importation of coconut oil—not copra—began through an Australian associate company. This oil was possibly of New Guinea- Solomons origin.

From Many Sources The copra crushing machinery was in operation by 1940 and dur ing the war, copra came to Auckland from many sources— some outside the South Pacific — as opportunity offered.

The mill in those years turned out hydrogenated coconut oil for the confectionery and baking trades, and several grades of coconut oil for the soap, cosmetic, and medical supply industries In addition to those products the factory now produces hardened

ne from animal fats. This ;d as an “improver” in milk ;r, as a weather-proofing , as an additive to soaps and ants, and as an alternative rtain other waxes. factory now also makes 1 mono-stearate (GMS). This chemical combination of fat flycerine, the latter produced coconut oil, and is used as mulsifying agent in certain uffs and ice cream.

The "Adulterants"

3 in 1954 Abels commenced manufacture of “high-ratio ming” for the bakery trade, is a modern constituent of sponge cakes —though Mum lave managed without it. te of the products produced is Auckland factory are sold to the Islands. company’s present managing or is Mr. Stuart H. Abel, son 3 founder. nds copra producers, visiting and, are welcome to visit the y and see for themselves happens to their copra—and to see some of the “adul s”—in the form of bolts and ers, stones and bones, that arrive with it. y will also hear all about the mce been well dried and dried copra.