ARMS AND EXPLOSIVES (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

Mr Butterfield: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, the object of this Bill is to enable the Governor in Council to make better provision by rule to give effect to the provisions of the Arms and Explosives Ordinance. It is, of course, an Ordinance which regulates the manufacture, use, sale, import and export, and so on of arms and explosives in the Colony.

Sir, the particular purposes for which it is desired that there should be power to make rules should, I think, be referred to by me at this stage, and they are three in number. Firstly, the regulation of the transport of arms; secondly, the authorisation of officers by name or office to arrest without warrant, and to search persons who are reasonably believed to have committed offences against any rules made under the Ordinance. The third purpose for which it is desired that there should be power to make rules is the provision of increased penalties for offences against the rules.

Those amendments, Sir, are provided for by clause 3 of the Bill, and I think I should refer to the amendment which is proposed in clause 2. Quite shortly, Sir, the effect of that amendment will be to provide that no dealing in or handling of arms and explosives on behalf of the Crown shall be exempt from the operation of the Ordinance, as is at present the case, unless it is in accordance with rules made under the Ordinance.

So, shortly, Sir, the purpose of this measure is to enable control over arms and explosives to be more effectively exercised in Singapore. I hope, therefore, that this House will give the Bill its Second Reading.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.

Mr Speaker: Committee stage, what day?

Mr Butterfield: 12th October, Sir.