Meaning of "Motor Spirit."
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C.M.U.A. Representations Prevail with the Home Office.
The following is the official coerespondence to which we refer editorially, on page 263 ;— "83 Pall Mall, S.W., "4th September, 1916. " Sir,—I am instructed by my Committee to ask, for the immediate guidance of our members, whether paraffin which has a specific gravity in excess of .800, and which flashes at a temperature higher than 73 degrees Fahrenheit (Abel closed test), is to be regarded as an ` inflammable hydro-carbon' within the meaning of part VI of the Finance (1909-10) Act, 1910, and regulation SG of the Defence of the Realm (Con_ solidation) Regulations, 1916
"Your obedient servant, "(Signed) F. G. BRISTOW, Secretary.
• "The Secretary, "Home Office, Whitehall, S.W._" "Home Office, Whitehall, S.W. "6th September, 1916. " The Under-Secretary of State is directed to inform the Secretary of the Commercial Motor Users Association that his letter of the 4th inst. has been forwarded to the Secretary, H.M. Board of Customs and Excise, to which department communications on the subject of the letter should be addressed."
83, Pall Mall, S.W., " 12th October, 1916. " Sir,—I am instructed by my Committee to refer to my letter to you of the 4th ult., on the above subject, and to your reply of"the 6th ult., in which you stated that my letter had been forwarded to the Secretary of the Board of Customs and Excise. I have now heard from the Board of Customs and Excise that paraffm and other substitutes are not treated by them as 'motor spirit,' and that the only tests they make of motor spirit on importation is for taxation purposes. "In these circumstances, the Committee of this Association very strongly represents to the Home Office the expediency of the issuing of an immediate instruction to Chief Constables throughout the country; to allow no prosecutions to be instituted under the Order in Council of the 18th August last, unless the fuel in question pays the petrol tax.
" I am, sir, etc., "(Signed) K G. BRISTOW, Secretary. "The Secretary, "Home Office, Whitehall, S.W."
"83, Pall Mall, S.W., "14th November, 1916. " Sir,—I am instructed by my Committee to enclose herewith extract iSee page 269.—En:? from to-day's issue of the 'Nottingham Guardian, and to ask for information as to whether the instruction to which reference is made has been generally given by the Home Office to all Police Forces in the United Kingdom 2
" I am, sir, etc., "(Signed) F. G. BRISTOW, Secretary. "The Secretary, "Home Office, Whitehall, S.W."
"Home Office, Whitehall, S.W., "15th November, 1916. " Sir,—In reply to your letter of the 14th inst., I am directed by the Secretary of State to say that he has no authority to determine questions of law, but after consultation with the Board of Customs and the Board of Trade he has made a suggestion to the Police to the effect described in a copy-extract from the 'Nottingham Guardian' which accompanied your letter.—I am, sir, "Your obedient servant, "(Signed) H. B. StmesoN "The Secretary, "The Commercial Motor Users Association."