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Wednesday, March 1, 1972
PROPOSAL TO ABOLISH DUTY ON METHYL ALCOHOL
Financial Secretary And His Budget
The Financial Secretary, Mr. C.P. Haddon-Cave, proposed today to
abolish the duty on methyl alcohol as from 6 p.m. today.
Council.
He made the announcement when he presented his Budget in the Legislative
Methyl alcohol was taxed 67.50 per gallon, and in addition 28 cents for
every one per cent by which the strength by volume exceeds 25 per cent.
"The need for such r
c originally from an epidemic of cases
of adulteration of liquor with methyl alcohol, a dangerous poison, causing
deaths and injuries," Mr. Haddon-Cave said.
It had been considered neccssary to remove the financial inducement
to use methyl alcohol for adulteration of liquor by subjecting it to duty at
the same rate as for methyl alcohol, he added.
When introducing this resolution in 1957, Mr. Clarke emphasised that
the purpose of the resolution was not to increase revenue but to protect the
public.'
1
The view shared by the Secretary for Home Affairs, the Director of
Medical and Health Services, the Director of Urban Services and the Director
of Commerce and Industry, that the likelihood of methyl alcohol being used for the
manufacture of liquor rather than for duplicating fluids, printers' ink, and
such products was no longer of real concern, he said.
The loss of revenue by abolishing duty on methyl alcohol would be
about $100,000 a year, he added.
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