POLICE FORCE (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

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

Sir, this is a very short and simple Bill. The effect of it is to amend section 44 of the Police Force Ordinance which at present provides that gratuities and pensions may be prescribed for special police officers who are mobilised for active service. That does not enable us to prescribe pensions and gratuities for the Volunteer Special Constabulary who are not, in fact, mobilised for active service. Appropriate pensions and gratuities for those members of that force who suffer injuries or death in carrying out their duties have been provided for in a set of regulations made as Emergency Regulations in 1948. I am sure the House will agree that it is right in principle that provision for pensions and gratuities for these men should be made under the substantive law and not be dependent on Emergency Regulations, and, in any event, as the House knows, the Emergency Regulations will lapse later this month. It is for this reason, Sir, that I seek this House's approval for the amendments contained in this Bill.

In moving this motion, I should like to take up a minute or two of the House's time to say something of the Volunteer Special Constabulary who are the people most affected by this piece of legislation. They consist of some 1,200 citizens of Singapore who voluntarily, in their spare time, give assistance to our regular police force. Members of this House will well recall the part that those men played in the riots that we had in May and we paid tribute to them on that occasion. Members may not appreciate that every day and every night there are members of Volunteer Special Constabulary who turn out on ordinary police duty with the regular members of the police force, and I am sure the House will join with me in expressing our appreciation of the public service that these men give.

Already in the few years that the force has been in existence, it has won formal recognition. Three members of the force have been awarded Colonial Police medals for meritorious service. One member has received a Colonial Police medal for gallantry, and one a King's Commendation for brave conduct. A number of others have received commendations from the Commissioner of Police. Five of them have given their lives in the service of Singapore. So it is, Sir, with a sense of high appreciation of these men and in gratitude for what they do that I ask this House to approve the Second Reading of this Bill.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.