Committee

Mr Speaker: Committee stage, what day?

Mr Tan Theng Chiang: Now, Sir. Mr Speaker, Sir, I move,

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

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: Sir, I second it.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr SPEAKER in the Chair]

Clauses 1 and 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 3-

Mr Tan Theng Chiang: Mr Chairman, I move,

In page 2, line 17, to leave out the words "and appointment".

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

Mr Tan Theng Chiang: Mr Chairman, I move,

In page 2, lines 24 and 25, to leave out the words "shall continue to hold such office until the first Saturday in December, 1957" and there to insert "shall, in the case of appointed Councillors, continue to hold such office until the first Saturday in December, 1956, and shall, in the case of elected Councillors, continue to hold such office until the first Saturday in December, 1957".

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

Mr Lee Choon Eng: On a point of information, Mr Chairman, Sir. I would like to know from the Government what it intends to do in the case of seats rendered vacant by resigned Councillors, because this amendment does not mention it. As far as I am aware, Sir, there is a vacancy in the City Council caused by a Member's resignation, and I wonder if Government has any intention of holding a by-election to fill that vacancy.

The Minister for Local Government, Lands and Housing (Inche Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat): That contingency is provided for in clause 2 (d) of the Bill, Sir. It is not the intention of the Government to have a by-election in the case of the resignation of the Minister for Commerce and Industry as a City Councilor.

Mr Lim Choon Mong: Sir, I would like some clarification from the Minister for Local Government, Lands and Housing, and that is, whether the views expressed by the Member for Cairnhill regarding nominated Councillors are also the views of the Government.

The Chairman: We have passed that stage. We are now on an amendment.

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.

Long Title-

Mr Tan Theng Chiang: Mr Chairman, Sir, I move,

In page 1, line 3, after the words "office of", to insert the word "elected".

The Chairman: Is it a consequential amendment?

Mr Tan Theng Chiang: Yes, Sir.

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

Mr Tan Theng Chiang: Mr Chairman, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill, as amended, be reported to the Assembly."

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill reported, with Amendments.

Amendment to title reported.

Third Reading

Mr Speaker: Third Reading, what day?

Mr Tan Theng Chiang: Now, Sir. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill, as amended, be now read the Third time."

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: Sir, I second it.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill, as amended, accordingly read the Third time.

Mr Speaker: I think this is an appropriate time to suspend. I will take the Chair again at half-past two.

Sitting accordingly suspended at 12.27 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. Sitting resumed at 2.30 p.m.