Committee

Mr Speaker: Committee stage, what day?

Mr Goode: Now, Sir. I beg to move,

That the Assembly do resolve itself into Committee on the Bill.

Mr Seah Peng Chuan: I second the motion.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 2 -

Mr R. Jumabhoy: Mr Chairman, Sir, I move,

In line 10, to leave out the word "Minister" and insert the words "Council of Ministers".

The Chairman: Can I have that in writing, please?

Amendment handed in.

The Chairman: The amendment is in order.

Mr R. Jumabhoy: The reason is this, Sir. Previously, such powers have been given to the Governor for appointing members to different bodies. In practice, I understand the Governor consults his Executive Council. If I am to understand that this is taken to mean the Council of Ministers, then I have no objection; but if that is not so, it is better that the appointments should be made by the Council of Ministers.

Question proposed.

Mr Goode: Sir, I think it may be that the hon. Member moving this amendment has overlooked the fact that this Committee of Appeal is formed by quite a number of authorities. Under Section 21 (1) (a) of the Cinematograph Films Ordinance, the first authority is that there are three persons appointed by the Governor, and under paragraph (b) there are three persons appointed by the Legislative Council. Now, it is (b) which the present Bill seeks to change, so that if the Bill, as now worded, was accepted by the Assembly, we should have three persons appointed by the Governor and three persons appointed by the Minister. I do not know whether the hon. Member moving the amendment would like to give further thought to it. I do not think it would be satisfactory drafting to suggest that three members should be appointed by the Council of Ministers, because I think I am right in saying that the constitutional position is that it should be the Governor in Council - which is, in fact, the Council of Ministers - so that his amendment would therefore, I think, give us three persons appointed by the Governor and three persons appointed by the Governor in Council. There are obviously slight anomalies in having those two in such close association. I should, however, like to make it quite clear, Sir, that from the Government side of the House, we have no objection in principle to accepting an amendment which will give this power to the Governor in Council and not to the Minister. There is no objection in principle at all. It is merely a question of neatness of wording. Possibly the hon. mover of the amendment would like to speak again.

Mr R. Jumabhoy: Sir, I accept the wording "Governor in Council" instead of "Council of Ministers".

The Chairman: We will come to that. The Question before the House is that the word "Minister" proposed to be left out, be left out. If that word is left out, then, of course, there may be an amendment to the amendment moved by the Member for Telok Ayer.

Mr Goode: Could I make it clear, Sir, that on this side of the House we accept the amendment "Governor in Council", so that Members may know when voting on what it is proposed to leave out?

Question, That the word "Minister" proposed to be left out, be left out, put, and agreed to.

The Chairman: The Question now is that the words "Council of Ministers" proposed to be inserted, be there inserted. Can I have the amendment?

Mr R. Jumabhoy: Sir, I have already withdrawn that and substituted another amendment.

The Chairman: Yes, but the amendment is already before the House. I would prefer another hon. Member to move an amendment to this amendment.

Mr Butterfield: Mr Chairman, Sir, I move that, in place of the words "Council of Ministers" proposed by the hon. Member, the words "Governor in Council" be substituted.

The Chairman: Can I have that in writing, as required by Standing Orders?

Amendment handed in.

The Chairman: The amendment is in order. The original amendment then was to leave out the word "Minister" and to insert the words "Council of Ministers". Since when it has been agreed that the word "Minister" be left out, and a further amendment has been proposed to the original amendment to leave out "Council of Ministers" and to insert "Governor in Council".

Question, "That the words proposed to be left out, be left out," put and agreed to.

Question, "That the words proposed to be inserted, be there inserted," put, and agreed to.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Mr Goode: Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill, as amended, be reported to the Assembly."

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill reported, with an Amendment.

Third Reading

Mr Speaker: Third Reading, what day?

Mr Goode: Now, Sir. I have to move, "That the Bill, as amended, be now read the Third time."

Mr Seah Peng Chuan: I second it.

Question proposed.

Mr Speaker: It has been pointed out, Mr Chief Secretary, that possibly a further amendment, which is merely consequential, should be made in line 9, for "word" to read "words".

Mr Goode: Sir, I move a formal amendment,

In line 9, to leave out the word "word" and insert "words".

Question, "That the words proposed to be left out, be left out," put, and agreed to.

Question, "That the words proposed to be inserted, be there inserted," put, and agreed to.

Question, "That the Bill, as amended, be now read the Third time", put, and agreed to.

Bill, as amended, accordingly read the Third time.