CONTROL OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS ORDINANCE (Continuation in force)

The Minister for Commerce and Industry (Mr J. M. Jumabhoy): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to move,

That this Assembly, in accordance with subsection (2) of section 1 of the Control of Imports and Exports Ordinance (Chapter 214), resolves that the aforesaid Ordinance shall continue in force for a further period of one year commencing on the 8th day of December, 1956.

Sir, on five previous occasions this Ordinance has come up before the Legislature of this colony for its continuance and has been approved each time for a period of one year. My motion now seeks to extend the continuance of this Ordinance for a further period of one year as from the 8th of December, 1956.

This Ordinance gives the Minister for Commerce and Industry powers to make orders prohibiting the import and export of goods. However, let me assure Members that, in keeping with our free trade policy, these powers are used very sparingly, and except for a comparatively narrow field, most imports are placed on the open general licence and exports are freely licensed. The powers of control, however, come in useful in regulating imports for balance of payment reasons, especially from hard-currency areas, but here again all essential and many semi-essential goods are licensed freely.

These powers also provide a useful check for purposes of disease control in connection with the import of plants, animals and meats.

Hon. Members will recall that these powers were used a few months ago to prohibit the importation of pin-tables and similar amusement machines.

In the export field the powers under this Ordinance are used to keep a check on the export of strategic materials and essential items in short supply in Singapore. At present, controls on exports are very few in number. It is, however, necessary for the Minister to have such powers of control, and the Trade Advisory Council agrees with this view. Sir, I beg to move.

The Minister for Local Government, Lands and Housing (Inche Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat): I second it.

Question proposed.

Mr R. Jumabhoy (Telok Ayer): Mr Speaker, Sir, on receiving the assurance of the Minister that these powers will be used sparingly and with the advice of the Trade Advisory Council, I am not opposing the motion before the House.

This morning I read a rather alarming report about rubber exports to China. A trade mission has left for China from Singapore and the Federation, and has concluded deals in rubber for export to China. If the report in the Press is correct - that Government requires a guarantee from the exporter that this rubber will not be used for war purposes - how is the exporter to know how that commodity will be used in China? It is impossible for an exporter here to give any guarantee or surety. On the other hand, Sir, all these years rubber has been exported through the United Kingdom to Russia. Then why is this guarantee required from exporters that the rubber exported to China will not be used for war purposes? As I have said, it is impossible for exporters to know to what uses the rubber will be put. I hope the Government will not try and put obstacles in the export and import trade.

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy rose -

Mr Speaker: In reply?

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: Yes, Sir. Sir, the Member for Telok Ayer says that he will not oppose this motion because I have said that these powers will be used sparingly and with the advice of the Trade Advisory Council. Sir, that is not correct. I have not said that these powers will be used with the advice of the Trade Advisory Council. The discretion lies solely with the Minister, Sir, and no Minister is going to give up that discretion if he has to exercise it for the benefit of the country.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I should like to refer the hon. Member to section 4 (2) of the Ordinance which says:

"Any order made by the Minister under this section shall as soon as possible after the making thereof be laid before the Legislative Assembly and if at the next meeting of the Legislative Assembly after the order is laid before it a resolution is passed annulling the order or any part thereof the whole order or such part thereof as the case may be shall thenceforth be void but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder."

If, Sir, any hon. Member dislikes any order made by the Minister, he has the right to move a motion annulling the order that the Minister has made at the next sitting of the Assembly when it is tabled. However, Sir, in normal matters we do consult the Trade Advisory Council, but it is not an assurance that I can give as a matter of right.

The hon. Member also raised the point about Government demanding a guarantee that the rubber exported to China will not be used for war purposes. Sir, I am sure that hon. Members will agree that this Government can take a bit of credit for trying to get the ban on rubber exports to China removed. Sir, in keeping with the requirements of the United Nations Organisation, we have to get statements as to the end uses of the rubber that is being shipped to China. It is not a guarantee, in the real sense of a guarantee, from a shipper. It is a requirement that the shipper should give us the name of the ultimate user and the purpose for which the rubber is going there. He need not specifically state that it is going for tyre manufacture or something like that, so long as he states that it is going there for a purpose which is peaceful, and not connected with the production of war materials and so on. Sir, it is not a guarantee in the form that we hold the shipper responsible for the guarantee, but, of course, if it is found that the shipper has purposely made a false declaration, then there are penalties laid out in the Control of Imports and Exports Ordinance.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Assembly, in accordance with subsection (2) of section 1 of the Control of Imports and Exports Ordinance (Chapter 214), resolves that the aforesaid Ordinance shall continue in force for a further period of one year commencing on the 8th day of December, 1956.