CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS)(AMENDMENT) BILL

The Minister for Local Government, Lands and Housing (Inche Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat): Mr Speaker, Sir, I lay upon the Table a Certificate of Urgency signed by His Excellency the Governor in respect of the City Council Elections (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Bill, 1956, and desire to proceed with the Bill throughout all its stages today.

Certificate of Urgency handed in.

Mr Speaker: The Certificate is in order. Are typed copies of the Bill available for hon. Members?

Inche Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat: Yes.

Typed copies of the Bill handed in to the Clerk and distributed to hon. Members.

Mr Speaker: Will the Minister please proceed?

First Reading

Inche Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the First Reading of the Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the City Council Elections (Temporary Provisions) Ordinance, 1955 (No. 21 of 1955)".

Bill read the First time.

Second Reading

Inche Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Members are aware that the tenure of office of City Councillors, both elected and nominated, who were due to retire on the 1st of December, 1955, has been extended to the 1st of July, 1956. As it will not be possible for the new local government legislation, based on the recommendation of the Committee on Local Government, to be in force by 1st July, 1956, it will be necessary to further extend the tenure of office of the City Councillors, elected as well as nominated, beyond 1st July, 1956. The purpose of this short and straightforward Bill is to enable the present City Council to continue in existence till December 1956. Sir, I beg to move.

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

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.