Motor Spirit From the Sago Palm

ACTIVE interest in the possibilities of power alcohol, derived from the sago palm of Papua, is being dis played by a Sydney organisation called Associated Motor Transport of NSW, which comprises taxi companies, buses, furniture removalists, etc. The Associa tion is to make a public test of the motor spirit, and will advise every mem ber of the Federal Government of the result.

This may induce the Government to allow a developmental company to be formed to extract motor alcohol from the sago palm.

Mr. G. A. Buckman, a combustion engineer who is interested in this pro

ject, has publicly claimed that motor spirit from sago palms will give greater mileage and power, less detonation and less engine heat than ordinary petrol.

He said it was equal to ethyl spirit. It is claimed that motor spirit from sago palms could be manufactured in New Guinea for Bd. per gallon and retailed in Australia for 1/8 per gallon—as compared with the present price of 2/4 per gallon (which, of course, includes at least 1/per gallon taxation).

The promoters of the excellent plan should not lose sight of the possibility of the Government deciding to tax their product, to compensate for revenue lost in any taxable motor spirit which the new sago-palm spirit might displace.

Spacious new premises are being erected in Douglas Street, Port Moresby, for Gerald Smith and Co. The building will have a frontage of 52 feet, a depth of 40 feet, while the ground floor will com prise a large retail store and a suite of three offices.

A number of Apia (Western Samoa) carpenters, plumbers and labourers travelled recently to Pago Pago (Ameri can Samoa) to seek employment on the extensive new works at the naval base.

They were disappointed when they found that only US citizens and residents of American Samoa are eligible for this employment.