HOW BENZOLE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED.
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The Producers Decide to Become Their Own Distributing Agents. A Half-million Company Foreshadowed.
THE ORGANIZATION of the supply and distribution of benzole as , a motor spirit is now rapidly developing. We have already recorded the formation o-f, the National Benzole Association,. which embraces about 75 per eent, of the concerns producing benzole in this country. In order to celebrate the formation of this body, a luncheon was given in London on Wednesday last, presided over by Mr. David Milne Watson, who has been elected chairman of the Association. He was supported by Sir Evan Jones, formerly Controller of the Petrol Department, and now Commissioner for Dyes; Sir Keith Price, who is connected with the Explosives Department of the Ministry of Munitions, and Mr. E. S. Shrapnell-Smith, whilst Mr. David Citroen, Mr. George Heath, Mr. Bennett, and others, were representative of the motor industry. ,
The Development of Benzole Production.
Mr. Watson dealt with the circumstances which had led up to the present position, saying that the benzole production of the country had been largely stimulated by the war. Prior to 1914, production had been small, but during the war it had reached very large dimensions, owing to the fact that the Government had asked everybody to produce all the benzole possible. The production of this spirit had, in his opinion, gone a long way towards the winning of the war. The Government, of course, had helped in regard to priority matters and the provision of finance, and to-day the position was this, that the gas-works throughout the country were very fully equipped with debenzolizing plants, and a substantial output was available. It would be a grievous pity to squander away the facilities which now exist, because, although the spirit is not wanted for war purposes, it is being required more and more every day for peace uses.
• The National Benzole Association had been formed to permit of dealing with benzole on the broadest lines. The problem up to the present had not been so much that of production as that of distribution. A meeting of those concerned in the welfare of the Association bad been held earlier in the day, and it had then been decided that the Association should be its own distributor. This was a momentous step, but in the opinion of those concerned it was a right and proper one, for, undoubtedly, if they had allied themselves with any (If the petrol companies such a step would have been oppo,sed to the interests of benzoic!. This decision involved them in an undertaking which was not going to be by an means a simple matter, but with the goodwill of motor-vehicle owners, the members of the Association felt, with confidence, that they would pull through.
The Standardization of Quality.
'A very important step had been made, too, in the standardization of the quality of benzoic. The standard which had been specified would, they thought, prove to be entirely satisfactory to motorvehicle users, but if it should prove not to be right, the Association would be prepared to make any alterations which would ensure that the spirit was of the kind to satisfy that class of user. They were fully alive in the Association to the fact that the 530 production of a home-made motor spirit was a matter of vital importance from the point of view of the safety of the nation, but they also knew that they must put quality and price at the proper level.
He was unable, on that occasion to 'make any revelations, as to the price;he could only give the assurance that the public would be quite satisfied with the price when it was announced. Mr. Watson's further remarks, however, would seem to imply that the Members of the National Benzole Assbeiation see no reason for bringing the price of benzole materially below that of petrol.. He said -that at she piesent time the requirements of motor spirit were, roughly, 200,000,000 in per annum, whilst the output of benzole was n the region of 40,0015,000 gallons, and this output could be improved.
With regard to the need for benzoic to be used for 9nriching gas for domestic and industrial purposes, he pointed out that benzoic only adds about five per cent. to the quality of gas, and considering the importance of a home production of motor spirit, he thought that the benzole should be taken from the gas, especially-as arrangements can probably be made in future for the enrichment of the gas from other sources. Mr. Watson 'dealt with the action of the Government with regard to excise duty, contending that the action was correct, as it would have been fatal to the new industry if the same excise duty had been imposed upon benzole as upon petrol.
Sir Evan Jones, in his remarks, said that we had for many years been entirely dependent upon linported fuel for the, road transport services of the country, and whilst the importers deserved considerable credit and a large measure of gratitude for what they had done, it was undoubtedly sound policy en the part of this country to organize the production of a home-made fuel. Not only was the matter of importance to the motor industry, but also to the textile trades which were dependent on dyes, for which benzole was the base ; but for this purpose only from 15,000 to 20,000 tons of benzole were required per annum, which, of course, was a small amount in comparison with the quantity which motor transport would absorb.
Bringing the User Into the Scheme.
Mr. E. S. Shrapnell-Smith commended the decision of the Association to establish ,its own distribution, and whilst it was not for' him to gueis the intended capital of-the company which would be formed to deal with benzole, he thought that the user should be allowed to participate in the provision of that capital, as this would mean a continuity and community of interests which would be of distinct benefit to the ben.
sole movement. His own opinion with regard to capital was that it should be in the region of .2500,000, and that members of the various motor-bodies, such as the Royal Automobile Club, the Automobile Association, the Commercial Motor Users Association, and others should be given an opportunity to stand in.
Benzole had the unique quality of being able to mix both with alcohol and paraffin, and the future of alcohol was virtually linked up with a large output of benzole.
He was able to announce that the sanction of the Board of Customs and Excise had been -given to the supply of a quantity of duty-free alcohol on which 20 London motorbuses will run on ordinary services very shortly as a test. As alcohol cannot be used efficiently without benzole, the latter becomes a key product. If 30,000,000 gallons of benzole could be put on the market, this would serve to enrich 150,000,000 gallons of alcohol. He dealt with the difficulties of ensuring the retention of the exemption of excise duty which had been granted to benzole, and said that the greatest use possible must be made of the argument that it was important to the welfare of the country that it should be able to produce a fuel from its internal resources.
Major Stenson Cooke, speaking for what he described as organized motoring, said that that community knew exactly what it wanted. It did not want something for nothing, and if the National Benzole Association would go ahead heart and soul, as there was every evidence of desire on its part so to do, organized motoring was prepared to buy at a fair price and to encourage and assist in the use of British benzole for British motorists in Britain (to which a voice added, "in British motor vehicles "). Major Stenson Cooke said that for the present they were
prepared to waive the question of price as that was a bridge that could be crossed when it was reached, but he expressed the strong view that the exportation of benzole would be a natiogal calamity, whilst to let gas out from gas works in an unscrulabeal state would be an insanity. Mr. S. Renshaw, dealing with the future, said he saw the possibility of more than doubling the present production of benzoic in the course of ten years, and he gave figures in his effort to justify the present high prices as compared with the price of is. 3(1. per gallon which was charged before the demand for benzole arose. He said that at that time a ton of coal cost the gas works 8s. ; now the price of coal is 22s. a ton. 'Their stores cost them three times as much, and their wages are twice as much. He thought that if, in any competitions that were held this year, it were stipulated that benzoic should be the motor spirit used, a considerable benefit would accrue to the development of the use of benzole.