The hon. member presumably refers to the more serious accidents in which passenger trains were involved and not to accidents resulting from trespass, attempted suicide, jumping on and off trains, etc.

A statement giving certain information is being prepared and will be laid on the Table of the House at the earliest possible date.

Interim reports have been received, but the matter is still the subject of enquiry.

It is my intention to make a full statement on the matter as soon as I am in a position to do so.

1. (1) The hon. member for Cape Town (Central) is referred to Government Notice No. 2132 in the Government Gazette, 4th December, 1925, which reads:
   It is notified for general information that, subject to the discretion of the Honourable the Minister of Mines and Industries, the Board of Trade and Industries will in future—
   1. (a) exercise the functions formerly entrusted to the Industries Division of the Department of Mines and Industries;
   2. (b) act as the co-ordinating medium between the public and the trade commissioners for the Union in matters relating to overseas trade.
2. (2) Yes, the Government has received ten reports from the Board, to wit:

In accordance with section 4 of the Act No. 28 of 1923, these reports will be laid on the Table within one month from the 28th January, when Parliament commenced. As some of the reports are still in the course of translation, no definite date can be set when any or all of them will be laid on the Table prior to the expiration of one month.

We are complying with the statute.

I regret that I am not prepared to remove the quarantine restrictions upon the town of Pietersburg until the expiry of the period of quarantine, viz., fifteen months from the last case of East Coast fever, provided no further cases occur in the meanwhile. While regretting that the relief asked for cannot be granted particularly in view of the arduous conditions prevailing owing to the drought, I would point out that the town is not entirely cut off, seeing cattle in yoke are allowed to enter the township and station from clean areas, provided they are not outspanned within the town or commonage area or upon buffer farms.

In the great majority of private leasehold townships in the Transvaal conversion to freehold in terms of Act 34 of 1908 as amended by Act No. 30 of 1909 is now proceeding. The Government does not therefore contemplate the introduction of further legislation this session.

From the market masters, by telegraph or telephone. Care is taken to distribute correctly the information received, but the report of the market master must be relied upon.

All enquiries into mining accidents are public and any one concerned has the right to appoint representatives, either legal or trades union, to attend such enquiries—and such representatives do make inspections in loco with the inspector holding the enquiry. Examination and cross-examination is allowed but it is customary for questions to be put through the presiding official. In the past extensive use has been made of these rights, and, as all facilities are already given, the introduction of legislation is not necessary.

1. (a) Cape, £89,280.
2. (b) Transvaal, £261,218.
3. (c) Orange Free State, £162,413.
4. (d) Natal, £26,764.

I may add, for the information of the hon. member, that for the same period the figures hereunder show the ratio between the number of applications received and the number of applications approved in respect of each province.

It is quite possible, but of course, I cannot say, because, first of all, the applications, as the hon. member knows, come before a Land Board, and I act entirely on their recommendation. It is quite possible that an overseas applicant may have been rejected, just as applicants from within the country are also rejected. I cannot say.

The statistics collected in regard to immigrants are based on nationality and not on countries of departure.

The figures for the year 1926 are as follows:—

No, that is the total number of immigrants from these different countries during the past year.

The net gain we have interpreted as meaning the number of immigrants coming to the Union and settling here permanently from these different countries.

Departures are not immigrants.

The number of European persons relinquishing domicile during the year 1926 was as follows: Males, 1,993; Females, 1,805; total, 3,798.

It is very difficult to answer questions like this on the spur of the moment. If the hon. gentleman would put it on paper, I will be glad to give the reply.

I can only give the same reply. If the hon. member will give me proper notice I will be very glad to reply. I have not got these statistics here.

1. (1) I have read the report referred to by the hon. member.
2. (2) I have given this important matter very careful consideration. The Government has already shown its appreciation of the importance of extending the lives of existing mines as is evidenced by the large number of undermining leases which have been granted under the Transvaal Mining Leases and Mineral Law Amendment Act, 1918, to existing companies based on reports of the Mining Leases Board which have been laid on the Table of the House.
3. (3) With regard to the third part of the question it would appear to be primarily the duty of the mining companies themselves to investigate the methods whereby working costs may be reduced. I have these matters, however, constantly in mind and the hon. member will see that the Government has already been able to take steps in regard to many of the recommendations of the report on the development of the mineral resources of the Union published in the Journal of Industries for April, 1925, notably in regard to the Reserved Minerals Act, the special investigation of base metal production and marketing, and the offices of the Trade Commissioners in London and New York, the purchase of Government supplies, the encouragement of oversea firms in establishing local industries, in the increased activities in the economic sphere of the geological survey; and the special surveys of the iron and coal resources of the country.

I will deal with the matter when I reply to a similar question next Tuesday.

1. (1) I am acquainted with the drought conditions which have unfortunately prevailed over a large portion of the Union, but which fortunately have not been general throughout its area.
2. (2)
   1. (a) The Government has no intention of taking steps with a view to proclaiming a moratorium as in its opinion circumstances do not warrant so drastic a step.
   2. (b) The special attention of the Land Bank is being directed to the districts affected, with a view to taking action under the Agricultural Credit Act, under which loans can be granted for the purchase of stock.

It should be added also that in 34 drought-stricken districts in the Cape Province facilities are granted for the removal of stock to grazing by rail at reduced rates, promissory notes being accepted, which are repayable on the return of the stock to the station whence they came.

1. (c) It is understood that in cases where circumstances warrant it, aid in the form of rations for the relief of distress is being granted by magistrates on behalf of the provincial authorities; further, on account of drought, the district of Prince Albert has been proclaimed by the Administrator of the Cape as a special area for relief purposes.

I wish to point out that relief of distress is granted by the provincial authorities where such is considered necessary. This is one of the functions of the provincial administrations, and as far as the Cape Province is concerned, the necessary power is given under Ordinance No. 4 of 1919.

1. (1) The Administration is aware of the harmful effect to wool if brought into contact with coal dust, and while, as the hon. member will appreciate, it is not possible to set aside trucks specifically for such items of traffic as wool and coal, the greatest care is exercised by the Administration to prevent the contamination of wool or other merchandise entrusted to the Administration’s care for conveyance by rail.
2. (2) Presumably the hon. member refers to my letter, dated 10th July, 1926, to the Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Graaff-Reinet, to the effect that the Administration cannot undertake to prohibit the loading of wool in trucks which have conveyed coal, for the reason that this would mean in a great number of instances that trucks would have to be hauled away from a station at which they are required and could be utilised, while others would have to be brought from other centres for the purpose of loading wool.
3. (3) The hon. member may rest assured that all steps possible are taken by the Administration to guard against the loading of wool and other merchandise in trucks which have not been cleaned, and the instructions issued to the staff in this connection are very definite. The instructions provide for trucks being thoroughly swept out before wool or general merchandise is loaded into them, while those to be loaded at unattended sidings must be swept out before leaving the supplying station. I think it only reasonable to expect that where a truck containing coal is off-loaded at an unattended siding and is required for loading wool at the same point, the sender of the wool should, in his own interest, arrange for the cleaning of the truck as far as possible.

Having regard to the considerable tonnage of wool and mohair conveyed by the Administration, amounting last financial year to 135,636 tons, the number of complaints in regard to wool being contaminated while in the Administration’s custody is very few.

I regret I am not in a position to supply the information asked for by the hon. member. Statistics as to losses from drought are collected by the Census Department in the annual agricultural census, and the figures for the year September, 1925, to August, 1926, are the latest collected, and these will not be available, I am informed, until approximately September next.

1. (1) It is difficult to convey by way of question and reply a good idea of the conditions of settlers throughout the Union. I had hoped that as a result of the capitalization of arrears and the consolidation of advances, settlers would in future be able to meet their financial obligations. This hope was unfortunately falsified in a large number of cases owing to the adverse farming conditions, especially drought, which obtained in many parts of the Union during the present season. Many settlers in drought areas are certainly in a difficult financial position. The Department is watching the course of events closely, and meanwhile no undue pressure is brought to bear on settlers whose difficulties are due to adverse farming conditions. The amount expended on Land Settlement during the period 1st April, 1921, to 31st March, 1926, is £1,689,020; this includes advances and expenditure on the two probationary settlements at Hartebeestpoort and Olifants River.
2. (2) It would take some considerable time to give an exact reply to this question, as the settlers have not only financial obligations, but also obligations in respect of occupations, etc. There are 6,809 settlers under the main settlement laws (exclusive of farms held under mortgage bonds), and of these 2,139 are fulfilling their financial obligations. Owing to the drought I have, on the recommendation of the board, granted exemption from occupation in many cases for periods of not more than one year, and I have also granted extension of time for the payment of instalments.
3. (3) Except in so far as may be necessary as the result of recommendations by the Irrigation Commission, affecting irrigation areas, it is not the intention of the Government to purchase blocks of land and sub-divide them into settlement holdings, as was extensively done some years ago. Settlement operations under the block purchase scheme proved to be too expensive, and for various reasons were not as successful as was anticipated. The main settlement operations will be confined to purchases under the contributory purchase scheme, i.e., Section, XI. of the Land Settlement Act, 1912. Crown lands suitable for settlement will, of course, be disposed of under the Land Settlement Act as hitherto.
4. (4) The figures for the period since 1st April, 1924. are as follows:—

The totals under (b), (c), (d) and (e) exceed the number under (a) owing to 35 applications made before 1st April, 1924, being dealt with after that date.

I have got the matter in hand, and hope the result will be satisfactory to all concerned. Meanwhile, the prohibition of importation by letter is not being harshly enforced.

The hon. member knows from experience that one cannot jump to conclusions. I am inquiring into the matter myself to see what the hang of it is, and as soon as I come to a conclusion I will communicate with the hon. gentleman.

(1) (a) The report is incorrect that I caused to be inserted in the contract form issued by the Public Works Department a colour bar clause. The following clause has been a condition of Public Works Department contracts in the Transvaal, Natal and Orange Free State Provinces since Union; it was taken over from pre-Union Transvaal conditions, and was framed somewhere about 1902. The clause reads—

This clause does not appear in contracts in the Cape Province. I had my attention drawn to the clause as it affects the Transvaal, Natal and Orange Free State by the trades unions, and the matter has for some time been under consideration, and a communication is awaited the present time from the Natal Executive Committee on a concrete case which has arisen there.

(1) (b) and (c) and (2) of the question is covered by the answer given above.

No, it has never been applied to the Cape Province.

I submit that question does not rise out of this one. If he desires information, I shall be happy to give it to him if he puts the question in the proper form.

My hon. friend seems to have mixed up the Trade Union executive with the South African Party Hoofd Committee.

1. (1) No.
2. (2) No.
3. (3) No. A Bill dealing with iron and steel will be introduced as foreshadowed in the Governor-General’s speech.

I beg to refer the hon. member to my reply to question No. XVIII (Mr. Krige).

1. (1) No.
2. (2) The question of placing arsenicum pentoxide on the free list will receive consideration when the customs tariff comes up for revision during the present session of Parliament.

The position is simply that I have not the right under the customs tariffs to put arsenicum pentoxide on the free list. That can only be done after a revision of the tariff.

At the time the tariff was made arsenicum pentoxide was not used for the eradication of prickly pear. Consequently provision was not made for its free importation as, e.g., in the case of lead pentoxide.

(1) and (2) The matter is being considered.