12. Evidence in proceedings for offences---The principal Act is hereby
 amended by inserting, after section 46, the following section:

   ``46A. In any proceedings for an offence against any of the provisions
 of this Act, a certificate in writing signed by the Statistician
 certifying---
   ``(a) That, pursuant to section 6 of this Act, the Minister has
          approved the commencement or commissioning of any statistical
          survey, or the making of a substantial alteration to an already
          existing survey, or has waived or relaxed the duty under
          section 6 (1) of this Act in respect of a Government
          Department, as the case may be; or
   ``(b) That, pursuant to section 14 (d) of this Act, the Minister has
          approved the collection of information concerning any or all of
          the matters specified in section 4 of this Act,---

 shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be sufficient evidence
 that pursuant to section 6 of this Act, the Minister has approved the
 commencement or commissioning of any statistical survey, or the making
 of a substantial alteration to an already existing survey, or has waived
 or relaxed the duty under section 6 (1) of this Act in respect of a
 Government Department, as the case may be, or that pursuant to section
 14 (d) of this Act, the Minister has approved the collection of
 information concerning any or all of the matters specified in section 4
 of this Act.''