asked the Minister of Public Health:

1. (1) Whether the death rate from cancer in the Union has increased during the past eighteen years, and, if so, to what extent;
2. (2) whether radium is considered to be a cure for cancer in the initial stages of the disease;
3. (3) whether radium will assist to avoid distress and suffering in the advanced stages of the disease;
4. (4) whether the chief Health Officer of the Union or any competent committee of enquiry has expressed opinions on the curative properties of radium, and, if so, what were those opinions;
5. (5) whether the Minister is prepared to recommend a contribution by the Union Government of the sum of £50,000, or any other sum, for the purpose of the purchase of radium; and
6. (6) whether the Minister is prepared to organize and support a public appeal for a similar sum in order to provide the large hospitals of the Union with an adequate supply of radium

asked the Minister of Agriculture:

1. (1) Whether, in view of the Minister’s letter to the Sundays River Lucerne Corporation, dated the 8th August, 1929, the Division of Markets and Economics has instituted an enquiry as to the possibility of finding a market for lucerne both overseas and in the Union in order to relieve and improve the position of lucerne-growers; and, if so,
2. (2) what is the result of that enquiry ?

asked the Minister of Agriculture:

1. (1) Whether the Government has enquired into the causes of the sudden and unprecedented fall in the price of wool, and, if so, with what result;
2. (2) whether the enquiry included the disparity in price between the raw product and the finished article, and, if not, whether the Government will institute such an enquiry;
3. (3) whether the Government is aware of any organization or movement amongst overseas buyers of wool to deflate the prices of wool; and
4. (4) what action the Government intends taking to improve the conditions of the wool-growing industry?

Can the Minister tell us what particular measures he had in mind when yesterday, or the day before, he told the Press that the wool farmers need not despair— he was tackling the problem personally ?

asked the Minister of the Interior:

1. (1) How many inmates (deaf and dumb) are being trained and educated at the Worcester Institute;
2. (2) apart from the above institution, are there any other institutions in the Union for the training of the deaf and dumb; and
3. (3) whether any representations have been made to the Government for further similar institutions: and, if so, with what result ?

asked the Minister of Agriculture:

1. (1) Whether any survey has been made of the extent of the soil erosion existent in the Union, and, if so, what is the extent thereof;
2. (2) whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the resolutions passed at the conference held in Pretoria in November last;
3. (3) whether he intends introducing any legislation compelling owners of landed property to report the existence of soil erosion on their properties; and
4. (4) what action is being taken by the Government to combat the ravages of soil erosion ?

asked the Minister of Justice:

1. (1) Whether his attention has been drawn to the comments of the Judge-President of the Eastern Districts Court in the case of Rex. vs. Miriam Mgadlela, charged in October, 1929, with sending an obscene postcard to a European prisoner named Drayton;
2. (2) whether any steps have been taken to ascertain how and from whom the said native woman acquired the obscene postcard, and, if so, with what result;
3. (3) what steps are being taken to prevent the circulation of obscene books, prints, pamphlets and postcards amongst the natives; and
4. (4) how many convictions were there during the year ended the 31st December, 1929, of the Provisions of Act No. 5 of 1927 of (a) Europeans and (b) natives, and what was the sentence in each case ?

asked the Minister of Railways and Harbours;

1. (1) Whether in August, 1928, a European labourer, who was issued a free railway pass from Maritzburg to Ladysmith (Natal), altered the pass to read Ladismith (Cape) and proceeded to travel to the latter centre under the falsified pass;
2. (2) whether the labourer in question, when the deception was detected, acknowledged his civil liability for the rail fare and made a payment on account thereof;
3. (3) whether the Minister gave instructions that the balance should be waived; if so,
4. (4) whether any representations were made to the Minister which influenced him to issue such instructions; if so, by whom and of what nature were such representations; and, if not, what were his reasons for waiving the claim;
5. (5) whether no criminal prosecution was instituted or complaint lodged with a view to a prosecution; and, if not, why not; and
6. (6) whether the Minister will lay the papers upon the Table ?

I would like to know whether the Minister himself gave instructions that no criminal prosecution should result.

I should like to ask the hon. the Minister why he extended clemency in this case when it is the invariable practice to prosecute persons found to be travelling without a ticket.

I ask the hon. the Minister whether that person is still in the employment of the Railways and Harbours Administration?

Can the Minister tell us how the case was brought to his notice, and how he came to receive personal representations on the matter from a person who had defrauded the Government ?

asked the Minister of Railways and Harbours—

1. (1) From what source or sources is the drinking water which is made available for consumption by passengers on the South African Railways obtained;
2. (2) what precautions, if any, are taken to ensure that the water in question is fit for human consumption;
3. (3) what is the system adopted to ensure that the water bottles and other receptacles used are kept clean and the water renewed at regular intervals, and how often is this done;
4. (4) whether any cases of serious illness following on the drinking of such water have been brought to the notice of the Administration ?

asked the Minister of Railways and Harbours:

1. (1) What is the total number of level crossing accidents which occurred in the Union during 1929;
2. (2) how many persons were (a) killed and (b) injured in such accidents;
3. (3) how many such accidents have occurred in the Cape Peninsula since the electrification of the railways; and
4. (4) whether it is his intention to carry out the provisions of the Level Crossings Commission by eliminating existing level crossings in the Peninsula and substituting other and safer means?

asked the Minister of Public Health:

1. (1) Whether South Africa’s maternal mortality figures are among the highest in the world, ranking, with 4.98 per 1,000, second only to Japan with 3 per 1,000;
2. (2) whether the figures increased from 4.7 in 1924 to 4.35 in 1927 and to 4.98 in 1928; and
3. (3) whether the Government is prepared to appoint a commission to investigate this matter, with a view eventually to remedying existing conditions connected with care before, during and after labour by State control?

I would ask the hon. the Minister if it is the fact that where qualified nurses are not obtainable in this country, they may not be brought in from overseas.

May I ask the hon. the Minister whether he is dealing with certificated cases only, or with cases of all registered deaths.

asked the Minister of Railways and Harbours:

1. (1) Whether it is proposed to reduce certain plain clothes constables of the railway police at Salt River Works to the position of watchmen;
2. (2) whether such a reduction involves any loss of pay or diminution of prospects of promotion;
3. (3) whether the Governor-General’s consent has been obtained to this course;
4. (4) whether a similar course is proposed to be adopted at any other railway centre in the Union; and
5. (5) whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a return showing (a) the number of men of the docks police and railway police respectively employed in the Table Bay docks area as on the 31st March, 1928; (b) the total number of men employed in the same area on the same duties at the present time; (c) the strength of the railway police in the Cape Peninsula (excluding the docks area) as on the 31st March, 1928; (d) the corresponding strength at the present time; (e) the total strength of the railway police of the Union for each of the last five years; and (f) the sums paid out for losses by theft or pilferage during each of the last five years ?

asked the Minister of the Interior:

1. (1) What was the total number of Asiatics who left South Africa under the voluntary repatriation scheme from January to December, 1929, inclusive, with particulars of men, women and children so repatriated;
2. (2) how many repatriated Indians returned to South Africa during the same period; and
3. (3) whether any records are now kept of the occupation of Indians repatriated under the voluntary scheme or returning to South Africa; and, if not, why not ?

asked the Minister of Agriculture:

1. (1) How many bags of hominy chop were exported from the Union under the Certificate of the Department of Agriculture during the years 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928 and 1929;
2. (2) what quantity of the abovementioned hominy chop was rejected by the purchasers through it not complying with the department’s certificate;
3. (3) whether any rejections were due to the hominy chop being adulterated;
4. (4) what steps have been taken to determine the responsibility for the issue of export certificates for hominy chop of inferior quality; and
5. (5) whether the export of hominy chop to Germany has increased or decreased since the ratification of the German Treaty, and, if so, to what extent?

asked the Minister of the Interior what was the total number of auctioneers’ licences issued in 1928 (a) in the Cape Province, (b) in the Transvaal Province, (c) in the Orange Free State Province, (d) in the Natal Province?

asked the Minister of Finance whether, in view of the fact that to a very large extent the native poll tax on bona fide farm servants is paid by the farmer himself and is a direct tax on him, and in view of the fact that farm servants derive no benefits of education from the Native Development Fund, the Minister will be prepared to so amend the law as to exempt all bona fide farm servants from the payment of poll tax ?

asked the Minister of Defence whether, in connection with the sale of the property Stegmann’s Rest, Muizenberg, in 1929—

1. (a) a tender or offer was received by the Department of Defence from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs for this property, which adjoins the Muizenberg Post Office; if so,
2. (b) what was the amount of the offer or tender; and
3. (c) whether the property was sold to a private individual; and, if so, at what price ?

asked the Minister of Agriculture:

1. (1) What was the total amount in weight and value of wool imported into the Union during the years 1925, 1926, 1927 and 1928, respectively;
2. (2) for what purposes was this wool utilized; and
3. (3) what is the estimated amount which will accrue from the recently-imposed levy on wool, from native grown wool, and whether provision has been made for the expenditure thereof in the interests of native producers; and, if so, how it is proposed to deal therewith ?

asked the Minister of Labour:

1. (1) To what post has Mr. T. G. Strachan been appointed in the Department of Labour;
2. (2) what are his emoluments; and
3. (3) what was his age at the date of his appointment ?

I should like to ask the Minister what qualifications, other than the fact that he was the defeated Pact candidate, does Mr. Strachan possess for the appointment ?

Having started his career in the public service at the age of 54 years, at what age will this promising entrant be considered by the Minister to be fit for a pension? Mr. Speaker, I hope you will excuse my somewhat flamboyant style, but the question is seriously intended and I expect an answer to it. I should like to ask if it is a fact that the Government are dispensing with the services of men in other departments?

Are there any competent officials in the well-staffed department of labour who are qualified to take this appointment, and who would gladly have accepted promotion to it ?

Will the hon. member give consideration to the claims of the other defeated candidate. Mr. Snow?

A gentleman has been appointed as labour adviser. Will the hon. Minister inform the House whom he advises?

asked the Prime Minister whether the hon. Thomas Boydell was appointed as a senator to represent the natives or the Europeans?

Will the hon. Prime Minister tell the House what kind, sort, or description of people the hon. senator does represent in the higher sphere of usefulness to which he has been called in another place?

asked the Minister of Railways and Harbours whether, in view of the very large clip of wool, the serious fall in the price of wool, and the critical condition of the industry, the South African Shipping Board has taken any steps to secure a reduction of the freight on wool, which still stands at its maximum as fixed under the freight agreement, viz., 󐂾. per lb. less 7½ per cent.; and, if so, with what result ?

May I ask the Minister whether he is prepared to lay on the Table a statement showing the subjects which have been disposed of by the board, and what their conclusions were ?

asked the Minister of Railways and Harbours:

1. (1) What are the names of the officials or daily paid men employed by the South African Railways and Harbours whose merits have justified their increments being granted to them before the due date; and
2. (2) to which of the officials or daily paid men concerned have such increments been paid, and at what rate per annum in each case ?

Will the hon. Minister supply a list if I give him the dates within which information is desired ?

asked the Minister of Justice whether, in view of the burdensome effect of the present rate for annual licences for country hotels, the Government will introduce legislation during the present session amending the provisions in relation to the charge for licences of the present liquor law ?

In view of the impossibility imposed upon farmers, hotel proprietors and other people in the trade to carry out the obscure and burdensome provisions of the present Liquor Act, I would like to ask if the Minister is determined not to bring in any amending legislation as definitely promised by him last session?

asked the Prime Minister:

1. (1) Whether the representatives of the Union Government at the Conference on Imperial Relationships in London (Mr. F. W. Beyers and Dr. Bodenstein, Secretary for External Affairs) endeavoured to get the various representatives at that conference to admit that the Union was free to secede from the British commonwealth of nations at any time she desired to do so; and, if so,
2. (2) whether this attitude was adopted with the approval of the Prime Minister?

Did they press that question? Yes, or no?

asked the Minister of Posts and Telegraphs:

1. (1) Whether he recently made the following statements in public: (a) “After twenty years of experience, I am not so sure that I am such a strong State socialist as I used to be”; (b) “if we examined the rates of pay and conditions under which many State servants are working, there is very little to be proud of. Better conditions are often found in private employment”; (c) “I do not consider it the business of the State to interfere in any industry that has been given ‘home rule’”; and, if so,
2. (2) whether he will indicate what conditions of State employment he referred to in (b) and what definition is to be placed upon the term “home rule” ?

Will the Minister tell us whether we can get a full report of what he did say on that occasion?

[Reply inaudible.]

asked the Minister of Justice:

1. (1) What was the number of plain clothes members of the police force employed in the Liquor Branch, Johannesburg, for the suppression of the illicit liquor traffic when the new Liquor Act came into force;
2. (2) to what extent has the number of plain clothes members of the force employed in the same capacity been increased since that date; and
3. (3) why has the increase been rendered necessary ?

Is there any truth in the statement published in the press that there has been a large increase in the illicit liquor traffic on the Rand in consequence of the fact that fines may now be imposed, instead of imprisonment without the option of a fine?

asked the Prime Minister whether it is his intention to introduce legislation during the present session which will extend the franchise to women ?

asked the Minister of Agriculture:

1. (1) Who supplies the department with information about the prospects of the harvests in different parts of the country for publication from time to time;
2. (2) by whom are those persons appointed; and
3. (3) whether they receive any remuneration, and, if so, how much?

asked the Minister of Public Health:

1. (1) Whether he has received any information with regard to the rowdyism of the native lepers in Pretoria;
2. (2) whether he can give the House any information of the cause of this disturbance; and
3. (3) seeing that this is serious and the cause of bloodshed, whether he will have the matter investigated ?

asked the Minister of Finance whether he will take advantage of the forthcoming visit to the Union of Lord Melchett to discuss with him the principles of Empire free trade, of which he is an exponent, with the object of ascertaining whether the adoption of such principles in relation to certain of the Union’s raw products could not be made to minister to the advantage of the primary producer?

Does the Minister see no advantage in such a discussion?

asked the Minister of Agriculture:

1. (1) Whether he is prepared to recommend or authorize the continued payment by the Land Bank of an annual grant to each agricultural union in South Africa in aid of the expenses of such organizations;
2. (2) whether he stated to representatives of such unions that he would not favour the payment of any such grant unless the officials employed by the unions were fully bilingual; and
3. (3) whether he is aware that in the case of certain officials of the agricultural unions who have rendered devoted service to the agricultural industry their services would be lost to the industry if they were required either to become fully bilingual or to relinquish office?

Are we to understand that the Minister lays it down that every British official employed by agricultural bodies is to be discharged before he will continue any further grants? For that is what it amounts to if his threat is carried out.

Is the Minister not aware that two of the ablest secretaries of agricultural unions in South Africa—Mr, Mitchell of the Natal Union and Mr. Woodin of the Eastern Province Union—will have to relinquish their positions if the Minister’s dictum is enforced ?

asked the Minister of Railways and Harbours:

1. (1) Whether on Sunday evening, the 12th January, 1930, a booking clerk at Pietermaritzburg declined to accept a £5 Bank of England note which was tendered in payment of a railway fare by a visiting tourist, on the ground that it was not legal tender; and
2. (2) whether, in view of the fact that such notes are accepted in the U.S.A. and other foreign countries, the Minister will consider the advisability of allowing them to be accepted by the Railway Administration ?

1. (1) Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the record of a case heard at Johannesburg about the 21st December, 1929, wherein a native named William pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm to one Frank, the accused having stabbed him with a knife, on the evening of the 8th December; and
2. (2) whether he will obtain the reasons of the presiding magistrate for the apparent leniency shown in the case in that the accused was fined only £5 or alternatively one month’s imprisonment ?

Is the Minister aware that there is a strong feeling on the Rand in regard to this question? I have made no comment on the judgment because I would like to know the magistrate’s reasons for giving the judgment he did.