House of Assembly: Vol35 - TUESDAY 27 APRIL 1971

TUESDAY, 27TH APRIL, 1971

For oral reply:

Wheat and maize: Increases in producer prices; increases in consumer subsidies *1. Mrs. H. SUZMAN

asked the Minister of Agriculture:

Whether the increases announced on 14th April, 1971, in the producer prices of wheat and maize will be followed by increases in the consumer subsidies on (a) bread and (b) maize; if so, when; if not, why not.

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE:
  1. (a) There will be no increase for the present season since the increased producer’s price will apply to the next season which commences in October when the matter will be considered.
  2. (b) The consumer’s subsidy on maize is not increased because the producer’s contribution to the Stabilization Fund has been reduced by 5 cents per bag and the consumer’s contribution of 8 cents per bag in respect of both white and yellow maize, to the Stabilization Fund, and 4 cents per bag to the Maize Offal Fund in respect of white maize, have been abolished whilst the Maize Board’s selling prices for white and yellow maize have been increased by 3 cents and 17 cents per bag, respectively.
Investigations into advertising of liquor *2. Mr. L. F. WOOD

asked the Minister of Justice:

  1. (1) Whether the committee of the National Liquor Board investigating the advertising of liquor has concluded its investigations; if not, when is it expected that the committee will complete its investigations and submit its report; if so,
  2. (2) whether he will make known the findings of the committee.
The MINISTER OF JUSTICE:
  1. (1) No, but it is expected that the investigations will be completed by June, 1971.
  2. (2) A decision in this regard will be made after I have considered the report.
Sea or fisheries patrol aircraft *3. Mr. J. W. E. WILEY

asked the Minister of Economic Affairs:

  1. (1) Whether any sea or fisheries patrol aircraft were acquired by the South-West African Administration or his Department; if so, (a) how many, (b) from whom, (c) at what price and (d) where have such patrol aircraft been stationed;
  2. (2) whether the aircraft had all the necessary instruments to carry out their duties; if not, (a) why not and (b) from whom and (c) at what price were such instruments acquired;
  3. (3) whether any requests were made for hangar space and other accommodation elsewhere in South-West Africa; if so, (a) to which authorities, (b) for what purpose and (c) when;
  4. (4) whether the request was acceded to; if not, (a) by whom was it refused and (b) for what reason.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS:

As far as the Department of Industries is concerned the particulars are as follows:

(1) No.

The rest of the question falls away.

Medical practitioners dispensing medicines *4. Mr. L. F. WOOD

asked the Minister of Health:

(a) How many medical practitioners are known to be dispensing medicines in terms of section 73 of Act 13 of 1928, (b) how many of them are in the service of (i) the State, (ii) a provincial administration and (iii) local government and (c) how many are in private practice.

The MINISTER OF JUSTICE (for the Minister of Health):

No statistics in this connection are available.

Representations re arrest and detention of S.A. citizen at Chirundu border post *5. Mrs. H. SUZMAN

asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs:

Whether his Department has made representations to the Zambian Government in regard to the reported arrest and detention of a South African citizen at the Chirundu border post in February, 1971; if so, (a) what representations and (b) with what result.

The MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

The matter was first brought to my Department’s attention on 7th April, 1971, whereupon written representations were made to the Zambian Foreign Ministry. A reply is still awaited.

*6. Mr. E. G. MALAN

—Reply standing over.

East London flood damage *7. Brig. H. J. BRONKHORST (for Mr. S. A. van den Heever)

asked the Minister of Social Welfare and Pensions:

What amount has the Government paid out to victims of flood damage in the East London disaster area.

The MINISTER OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS:

The Central Government made no contributions as local authorities and the public contributed sufficient to settle all the claims for damages. The Cape Provincial Administration accepted responsibility for the expenditure in connection with the repairs to the Batting Bridge and the proclaimed roads in the area. The Government, naturally would have made a contribution had the amount collected proved inadequate.

Compensation for farmers i.r.o. East London flood damage *8. Brig. H. J. BRONKHORST (for Mr. S. A. van den Heever)

asked the Minister of Agriculture:

  1. (1) What amount has been paid out to farmers in the East London disaster area in respect of flood damage;
  2. (2) whether he intends compensating farmers for agricultural top-soil that was washed away in the East London disaster area;
  3. (3) whether he will make a statement in regard to the matter.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE:
  1. (1) R156 to date in respect of soil conservation works. Applications are still being awaited.
  2. (2) No.
  3. (3) In cases where assistance is justified the existing loan facilities of the Department of Agricultural Credit and Land Tenure are regarded as sufficient. Treasury approval has been obtained for the re-subsidising of damaged soil conservation works including watering places, boundary-and internal-fencing. This information has already been made public.
*9. Mr. G. N. OLDFIELD

—Reply standing over.

*10. Mr. W. V. RAW

—Reply standing over.

Computerization of customs clearance documents *11. Mr. W. V. RAW

asked the Minister of Finance:

  1. (1) Whether computerization of customs clearance documents has been introduced; if so, (a) when, (b) at what cost and (c) what saving or increase in staff was effected thereby;
  2. (2) whether any complaints have been received of delay in processing clearance documents as a result of computerization.
The MINISTER OF FINANCE:
  1. (1) Yes.
    1. (a) The processing of the statistics in respect of imports and exports has been done on the computer since the installation thereof.
      As a result of the imposition of sales duty during 1969 the checking of clearance documents in respect of customs duty by means of the computer, as originally intended, could not be proceeded with.
      It was decided that the checking of accounts and clearance documents in respect of sales duty goods should take precedence and certain sales duty statistics are being processed by means of the computer since the 1st April, 1969.
      Since November, 1970, the auditing of bills of entry in respect of imported sales duty goods has been done by means of the computer.
      The processing of accounts in respect of locally manufactured sales duty goods, resulting in the extension of the computer, is at present being implemented.
      As soon as the project in respect of sales duty is fully implemented, the use of the computer for matters regarding customs and excise will be proceeded with.
    2. (b) and (c) As the intended project in respect of sales duty has not yet been completed, the costs thereof and any savings or increases of staff cannot as yet be determined.
  2. (2) No.
Mr. W. V. RAW:

Arising from the hon. the Minister’s reply, can he tell us whether the requirements called for in the amended Customs and Excise Act, designed for a computer, are being insisted upon from importers even though not used for the computer?

The MINISTER OF FINANCE:

Please table that question.

Broadcasting of lessons in official languages for immigrants *12. Mr. E. G. MALAN

asked the Minister of National Education:

Whether he has ascertained or will ascertain whether equality of the use of Afrikaans and English is being maintained in respect of the broadcasting of lessons in the official languages for immigrants and other persons whose home language is (a) French, (b) German, (c) Portuguese and (d) Italian; if so, with what result; if not, why not.

The MINISTER OF NATIONAL EDUCATION:

Yes, I have ascertained that no lessons in the official languages are at present being broadcast for immigrants and other persons whose home language is (a) French, (b) German, (c) Portuguese or (d) Italian. Language instruction for immigrant groups is at present under consideration.

*13. Mr. J. W. E. WILEY

Reply standing over.

For written reply:

Estate duty 553. Mr. D. M. STREICHER

asked the Minister of Finance:

(a) What amount has the Treasury received in estate duty during each financial year since 1948-’49 and (b) what is the estimated revenue from this source for 1971-’72.

The MINISTER OF FINANCE:

R

(a) 1948-’49

11 205 372

1949-’50

12161693

1950-’51

11 028 419

1951-’52

12 333 009

1952-’53

12 146 344

1953-’54

11 631 803

1954-’55

13 281 556

1955-’56

12 314 684

1956-’57

10 537 883

1957-’58

13 900 801

1958-’59

7 449 016

1959-’60

7 745 526

1960-’61

8 016 806

1961-’62

7 645 204

1962-’63

9 046 945

1963-’64

12 691 945

1964-’65

13 570 295

1965-’66

14 260 210

1966-’67

19813 191

1967-’68

19 829 775

1968-’69

20 596 598

1969-’70

27 659 255

1970-’71 (Provisional)

26 322 760

(b) 1971-’72 (Estimated)

26 500 000.

Overseas visit by Secretary of Dept. of Customs and Excise 571. Mr. W. V. RAW

asked the Minister of Finance:

Whether any senior officials of the Department of Customs and Excise are proceeding abroad during 1971; if so, (a) which officials, (b) when, (c) what previous overseas visits have been made by each in the past three years and (d) what is the purpose of the intended visit.

The MINISTER OF FINANCE:

Yes.

  1. (a) The Secretary.
  2. (b) From the 2nd to the 13th June, 1971.
  3. (c) The Secretary attended the annual meeting of the Customs Co-operation Council of which South Africa is a member, during June 1970 at Brussels and visited the Department’s offices in the United Kingdom and on the Continent.
  4. (d) To attend the annual meeting of the Customs Co-operation Council in Vienna.
Customs clearance of containerized traffic 572. Mr. W. V. RAW

asked the Minister of Finance:

  1. (1) Whether procedures have been established for the customs clearance of containerized traffic; if so,
  2. (2) whether he will make a statement in regard to the matter.
The MINISTER OF FINANCE:
  1. (1) No.
  2. (2) The matter is at present still being investigated.
Post of Under Secretary, Customs and Excise 573. Mr. W. V. RAW

asked the Minister of Finance:

Whether any officials from other departments have been appointed to the post of Under Secretary, Customs and Excise, during the past year; if so, (a) how many and (b) from what departments.

The MINISTER OF FINANCE:

(a) and (b) No official from any other department has been appointed as an Under Secretary during the past year. A Chief Work Study Officer (a grade equivalent to Under Secretary) in the Cape Provincial Administration was transferred to the Section Work Study of the Department with effect from the 21st October, 1969, and has been absorbed in a vacant post of Under Secretary (Administration) because of his previous experience in personnel matters and general administration. The official previously gained experience of the Department as a Public Service Inspector.