CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS (Notices in Vernacular Press)

Mr Lee Choon Eng asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the reasons why the Notices of Contested Elections in respect of the recent City Council elections, as published in the Government Gazette Extraordinary No. 123 of November 26, 1957, were not published in the vernacular newspapers; and whether he will take steps by the introduction of amending legislation, or otherwise, to ensure that Notices of Contested Elections in respect of elections to the Legislative Assembly, City or District Council will in the future be published in the vernacular newspapers.

The Acting Chief Secretary (Mr S. T. Stewart): Mr Speaker, Sir, section 34 (4) of the Local Government Elections Ordinance requires the Returning Officer to publish these notices in the Gazette and also in such newspapers as he thinks fit. There is therefore no requirement that they should be published in any particular newspaper.

However, owing to the high cost of advertisement charges, consideration is now being given to the question of amending legislation restricting publication in the Gazette only in future.

This amending legislation may not be enacted before the District Council elections this year. As these elections will take place in areas which are mainly rural, consideration will be given to publishing these notices in the vernacular newspapers only in addition to the Gazette.

If and when the amending legislation is enacted, Government intends inserting advertisements in the newspapers to the effect that the details of these Notices of Contested Elections are available in the Gazette.

Mr Lee Choon Eng (Queenstown): Mr Speaker. Sir, can the Hon. the Chief Secretary tell us how much did it cost Government to publish or to advertise such Notices of Contested Elections in the newspapers?

Mr Stewart: Sir, the advertisement charges in respect of these Notices of Contested Elections came up to about $15,750.

Mr Lim Koon Teck (Paya Lebar): Sir, will the Hon. the Chief Secretary inform us whether consideration will be given for posters to be put up at all community centres and public places giving information on these coming elections?

Mr Stewart: Sir, we will give that due consideration.

Mr Lee Choon Eng: Mr Speaker, Sir, will the Chief Secretary tell us why is it that a decision has been made by Government that such notices will not be advertised in future but only published in the Gazette?

Mr Stewart: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have already said that the reason is owing to the high cost of the advertisement charges.

Mr R. Jumabhoy (Telok Ayer): Sir, is the Government aware that certain sections of the public buy certain newspapers, and they will not read the notices unless they are advertised in the vernacular Press?

Mr Stewart: That is a matter of opinion.