SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
POWER-ALCOHOL IN GREAT BRITAIN. 
In a report issued by the British Committee which was appointed 
to investigate the question of alcohol as a fuel, the opinion is expressed 
that the time has come for action by the Government to insure close 
investigation of the questions of the production and utilization of 
aleohol for power and traction purposes. It is pointed out that there 
are in the British Empire vast existing and prospective sources of 
alcohol. The report proceeds -— 
“ As the price of alcohol for power and traction purposes... 
- . . must be such as to enable it to compete with petrol, it is 
essential that all restrictions concerning its manufacture, storage, 
transport, and distribution should be removed so far as possible 
consistent with safeguarding the revenue and preventing improper 
use, and that cheap denaturing should be facilitated. We recom- 
mend that an organization should be established by the Government 
to initiate and supervise experimental and practical developmental ” 
work at home and overseas, on the production and utilization of 
power-aleohol, . . . . This organization should be permanent, 
have at its disposal the funds necessary for its investigations, and 
be in close relation with the various Governments of the Em- 
JURY Seyi SY 
The report strongly emphasizes the fact that the power-alcohol 
industry cannot be left entirely to the chances of private enterprise, 
individual research, and the ordinary play of economic forces, and 
urges that serious consideration should be given to the question of State 
action to educate the publie concerning the merits of power-alcohol by 
demonstrations, lectures, exhibitions, and other appropriate means. It 
is claimed to be equally essential that the necessity of allowing fermen- 
tation and distillation to proceed simultaneously in the same building, 
and of permitting continuous distillation, should receive early con- 
sideration. : 
_ The views expressed in the above report appear to be very similar 
to the conclusions reached by the Special Committee on Alcohol Fuel 
and Engines which was established by the Institute. This Committee 
issued a comprehensive report on the whole subject in December, 1917, 
and, among other things, recommended the Government to grant a bonus 
on power-alcohol. No action has, however, been taken by the Common- 
wealth Government to facilitate the production of power-alcohol, On 
the contrary, an Excise duty of 1s. per gallon has been placed on 
methylated spirits. 
POWER-ALCOHOL IN AUSTRALIA. 
At the request of the Motor Traders’ Association of South Australia, 
the Institute arranged for a demonstration to be given in Adelaide on 
the 26th July last, of the practicability of running motor cars on 
alcohol, and of starting them from cold on that fuel. Thirteen cars 
were provided for the purposes of the tests. No difficulty was experienced 
in starting and running any of these cars, and in no case did it take 
more than nine minutes to make the necessary adjustments. 
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