METHYLATED SPIRIT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1, 26 September 1907, Page 5

METHYLATED SPIRIT.

SOME OF ITS USES. THE EFFECT OF THE NEW BILL., The Methylated Spirits Bill, which passed its third reading in the House of Representatives 011 Friday last, meets with tho approbation of the principal manufacturing chemists in Wellington. Tho Bill was introduced by tho Minister of Customs (the Hon. J. A. Millar) to prevent the purification of tho spirit in tho colony. Soma remarks by experts who were interviewed by a Dominion representative serve to supplement tho statements of tho Minister when advocating the measure in the House.

" The Bill has been found very neccssary," said Sir. Robert E. Wood, manager of Messrs. Keinpthorno, Prosier, and Company's Wellington branch. "Certain manufacturers who liavo no regard for the welfare of the public health have in tho past three or four years purchased thousands of gallons of methylated spirits, and, after extracting by a f.?cret process the odour of the napttha (with which the rectified spirit rf wine is methylated to render it pungent in smell, nauseous to the tast'i. and unfit for human consumption); bavemado large quantities of household ' requisites, principally toilet preparations, such as bay rum and perfumery. Most important of all, these peoplo have used tho spirits iu cul'iiary flavouring essences, such as essence of lemon, vanilla,' almonds, and others which are largely used in every home. The duty , on methylated spirit, ; I might mention, is sixpence per liquid gallon. Tho preparations referred to, when made in bond in this colony with pure.spirits:of wine, h. n vo to' pay an excise duty—on toilet goods and ilavouring ossences of 12s. poi- gallon, and on perfumery lilies of 20s. a gallon. You will therefore see that, handicapped by..a duty of from lis. 6d. to"l9s."6d'. per gallon, according to the class of goods, it was impossible ■for manufacturers to compete against tho spurious preparations. Though at first low prices are always alluring, in the end quality must tell. Still, to safeguard the honest manufacturer, tho public health, and the revenue of the country, I consider tho Bill a most necessary and important measure. In l'egard to rcvenuo, I know the Customs' " working account has suffered "considerably. during tho last ,'fow • years through abuses in tho handling of methylated spirits; but I understand the manipulation is nov as .pronounced", now .as, twelve' months 'ago. The passing of tho Bill will not • make "any difference in tho price" to tlie consumer."'

...Mr. Owen, manager for Messrs. Sharland and Go., • said the Bill was •a most desirable 0110. He iiad advocated .such a measure for years, past, and had made and taken part in various representations on the subject to tho Customs authorities.. Tho Bill was framed on tho nicasuro which liad been, in force in England for many years past. Legislation to prevent the purifying of methylated spirit and its use'-'in "essences, tinctures, and the like was first enacted by tho .British Parliament in 1855,. and tho law was consolidated in ISBO. Tho

•" cleaning"" . of methylated spirit was at : tho ..present , time going on in this country, there, could bo no doubt, on a very, considerable scale, for making beverages, - culinary essences, toilet preparations, and medicinal tinctures. These. articles came into unfair competition'.with honestly-made prepara-tions,--.were injurious to public health, and involved serious loss to tho .revenue. Mr. Owen saw no reason why the Bill,-if it becomes law, shduld not achieve its object, provided that- the police ' assist the Customs authorities 111 rigorously administering it.

"Just what is wanted,'' said Mr. Young, of Young's Chemical Company. "There- firo' too many people' cleaning methylated spirit and using it for different preparations. It is high, time this was mado punishable' by law, though r think'it should .have been lone under the Turo Food Bill. Fou had better seo our works maniger, Mr. Bagley." 1

jer, 'iui. . Mr. Bagley,' like tho others, said he tailed tho new legislation with deight. The object of the methylating irocess was to provide tho arts and manufactures. • with a cheap alcohol ivhich could not be used for drinking purposes or in any other way that would cause the revenue of the country to _ suffer. But dishonest people, taking advantage of the cheapness of the methylated spirit, used it for purposes for which only the pure spirit should be used, and this Kind of fraud had now assumed such proportions that legislation was urgently needed to check it. The cost of preparing the cheapest articles with the pure spirit was four times that of preparing similar articles with methylated spirits, and in some casea thevcost- iras ten:times a» great.