ADJOURNMENT TO A LATER DAY MOTION

The Chief Minister (Mr D. S. Marshall): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to move that the Assembly, at its rising today, do adjourn, if the business is uncompleted, to tomorrow, the 25th of November, and, if completed, to the 8th of February, 1956.

The Minister for Labour and Welfare (Mr Lim Yew Hock): Sir, I second the motion.

Question proposed.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew (Tanjong Pagar): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I move that that motion be taken in two parts? The Chief Minister is suggesting that we give a vote on the wishes of the Government that, if the business is not completed, we will go on tomorrow, but that if it is, then the Chief Minister would not like to proceed to business, of which notice has already been given, for tomorrow.

I would ask that the motion by the Chief Minister be put in two parts so that those Members of this House, who feel that in any case the Assembly should go on till tomorrow, could vote on that motion.

The Chief Minister: Sir, may I speak on that?

Mr Speaker: Yes, certainly.

The Chief Minister: It is not the intention on the part of the Government to try to avoid any business that was laid down. The business for this sitting, Sir, has been adumbrated a long time ago. Hon. Members have had opportunities to place such motions and questions as they wished for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. They wished to place it for Friday and took the risk that there is no business on Thursday. Surely they take their own risk, but I would like to add this: that if the leaders of the Parties on the Opposition Benches feel generally that they would, in spite of the fact that there is little business to be done tomorrow, nevertheless like to sit tomorrow to consider the little business that is set down for tomorrow, Government wishes to take no exception to that procedure. I would rather that there should be agreement on this than that we should take a vote on the subject. If the leaders of the Opposition Parties would indicate their wishes, I am quite prepared to fall in with them.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Sir, I can speak on behalf of the Opposition Members on this side of the House that they are of the opinion that, in any event, the business which is down for tomorrow should be proceeded with.

The Chief Minister: In that case, Sir, may I then withdraw my original motion which should now stand,

That at its rising today the Assembly do stand adjourned till Friday, 25th November, 1955.

Mr Speaker: Have I the assent of the Assembly that the original motion be withdrawn?

Hon. Members: Yes.

Original motion, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Speaker: Can I have a seconder to the substituted motion?

The Minister for Education (Mr Chew Swee Kee): I second it.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That at its rising today the Assembly do stand adjourned till Friday, 25th November, 1955.