The Gazetteers Department

There were very few establishments manufacturing aerated waters like soda and lemon. They were generally small in size engaging about 2 to 5 persons; a few of the larger establishments, however, were found engaging about 8 to 10 persons. In small shops, it was found that a few members of the family did actually work in the concerns. At the time of the survey, of the total number of 20 establishments, 16 were located in Karad and four in Satara, employing about 44 and four persons respectively. Of these, in Karad 13 were employees, 15 were family members and 16 employers; in Satara all the four establishments were managed by owners them-selves. The occupation provided full-time employment throughout the year but business was dull during rainy and winter seasons, when the establishments maintained a skeleton staff. The business was brisk during summer.

The equipment consisted of soda-making machines, gas cylinders, soda bottles, glasses, ice boxes, furniture, etc. The cost of equipment ranged from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 4,000. The machines were mostly purchased from Bombay whereas the other equipment was purchased locally. Most of the establishments were housed in rented buildings. The rent ranged from Rs. 15 to Rs. 50 a month according to the size and location of the building. Besides, the owners paid local taxes such as renewal licence fee, water rates, electricity charges. etc.

There was no clear-cut division of labour as such. Work on machine and that requiring physical strength was mostly done by experienced adults, whereas unskilled work like bringing water, filling water in bottles, cleaning bottles and glasses etc. and serving drinks to customers was done by other adult workers and boys.

Wages were paid in cash, depending upon the skill and efficiency of the workers and upon the business turnover of the establishment concerned. A full-time adult worker was paid between Rs. 30 and Rs. 45 a month. In one of the establishments surveyed at Karad, the worker was provided with meals and the wages paid were Rs. 15 only. The working hours were longer, sometimes extending to 18 hours a day.

The daily turnover ranged from Rs. 10 in slack months to Rs. 50 in busy seasons. One of the establishments surveyed had even a higher turnover amounting to Rs. 75. The production of aerated water bottles ranged from � to 3 gross bottle a day including soda, lemon and orange. One of the establishments in Karad produced ice candy sticks in summer.

Lemon, essence, sugar, syrups, fruit juice, colour, ice, gas (in cylinder), milk, etc., formed the material required. Most of the material with the exception of colour, gas, essence etc., bought from Bombay and Poona was all locally purchased. The cost of the material ranged from Rs. 4 to Rs. 30 per day on an average for the whole year. The products were sold to hotels and restaurants more or less on a wholesale basis and to customers visiting the cold-drink shops. Some of the establishments also catered for customers at public places by engaging servants to sell their products.

The capital invested in these shops varied between Rs. 1,000 for small units to Rs. 4,000 in case of bigger units. In most cases capital was borrowed, the banks acting as the immediate source. The rate of interest varied between six per cent, to nine per cent. The earnings of the establishments showed a wide divergence depending upon the size of the unit. In case of small shops the earnings varied between Rs. 50 and Rs. 90 a month, those of medium size varied between Rs. 80 and Rs. 150 a month and those of large size varied between Rs. 180 and Rs. 300 a month. The earnings included labour charges of family members working in the concerns.

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