MALAYAN ROYAL NAVAL VOLUNTEER RESERVE (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read. 12.14 p.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 is the third of the amending Bills required to reflect changes made in the Service organisations as a consequence of the independence of the Federation of Malaya. Certain functions under the parent Ordinance are vested in the Flag Officer, Malayan Area, an appointment which has now been abolished, the functions of the post having been taken over by the Commander-in-Chief, Far East. This Bill accordingly seeks to give legal recognition to this transfer of functions.

Here again, Sir, opportunity has been taken to make certain further amendments to the Ordinance. Firstly, the Bill also recognises the new status of Singapore citizenship. Secondly, the Bill seeks to give effect to a promise made by the Government at the time when the M.R.N.V.R. Ordinance was amended last year to enable volunteers to be used on internal security duties. Clause 8 of the Bill seeks to provide for the award of pensions or gratuities to volunteers wounded or injured in the course of their service, including service on internal security duties, and also for the payment of pensions or gratuities to the widows and families of such members who are killed or who die of wounds received in the course of, or from an illness directly attributable to, their service as such members. This clause brings the M.R.N.V.R. into line with the other volunteer forces.

The opportunity has also been taken in the Bill to make various minor amendments to the Ordinance in order to clarify, and in some cases to amplify, its provisions. These are set out in the Explanatory Statement to which I do not think I need add. Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

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

Committee Wednesday, 16th July, 1958.