MILITARY MANOEUVRES (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

11.59 a.m.

The Chief Secretary (Mr E. B. David): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have His Excellency's consent to proceed with this Bill. I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, this amending Bill and the three following Bills are primarily necessitated by a reorganisation of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, which is in turn largely consequent upon the Federation of Malaya becoming independent. Certain appointments the holders of which are vested with statutory functions under these laws have now been abolished, and it is necessary to transfer the functions to the holders of the appro priate appointments.

This Bill is a short and formal measure, Sir, and there is little to add to the explanation given in the Bill. Following the reorganisation to which I have referred, the appointments of Air Officer Commanding, R.A.F. Malaya, and Air Officer Commanding, R.A.F. Singapore, have been abolished, and this Bill therefore seeks to transfer to the appropriate officers the authority previously exer cised by the two Air Officers Commanding.

Sir, I beg to move.

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 David.]

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read the Third time and passed.