FEDERATION OF MALAYA INDEPENDENCE (CONSEQUENTIAL PROVISIONS) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

10.25 a.m.

The Acting Attorney-General (Mr A. V. Winslow): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This is a simple and straightforward Bill necessitated by the attainment of independence by the Federation of Malaya. A number of our Singapore Ordinances provide for the Governor of Singapore and the High Commissioner of the Federation of Malaya jointly to make appointments to certain statutory Boards. If this Bill becomes law, the powers hitherto exercised by the High Commissioner will be exercisable in future by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of the Federation of Malaya.

The opportunity has also been taken to make a few other minor changes. Thus, the Bill provides that references to the Federation of Malaya and to Federal citizens shall in future be construed as references to the Federation of Malaya established on the 31st day of August, 1957, and to citizens of the Federation respectively. Consequential amendments have also been made by the Bill to the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. [Mr Winslow].

Bill considered in Committee:

[Mr SPEAKER in the Chair]

10.27 a.m.

Clause 1 -

Amendment made: In page 1, line 6, to leave out "1957" and insert "1958". - [Mr Winslow].

Clause 1, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 2 -

Mr Winslow: Sir, I beg to apply for permission to move an amendment to clause 2, line 16. I apologise for not giving earlier notice because it was only discovered yesterday. The proposed amendment is in page 1, line 16, to leave out "Federation" and insert "Federal". I apply under Standing Order 51 and crave the indulgence of the House. Standing Order 51(2) says that "if the Chairman is of the opinion that an amendment is of a minor or purely drafting character, he may, with the general assent of Members present, permit it to be moved without notice." I submit, Sir, that this is a minor clerical error which went unnoticed when the Bill was introduced at the last sitting.

The Chairman: It seems to be a typographical error. The amendment can be considered to be of a minor character. Has the Hon. the Attorney-General the assent of honourable Members?

Hon. Members indicated assent.

Amendment made: In page 1, line 16, to leave out "Federation" and insert "Federal." - [Mr Winslow].

Clause 2, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 3 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported with Amendments; read the Third time and passed.