PINEAPPLE INDUSTRY (AMENDMENT) BILL

11.04 a.m.

First Reading

The Minister for Commerce and Industry (Mr J. M. Jumabhoy): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to introduce a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Pineapple Industry Ordinance, 1957 (No. 15 of 1957)."

Bill read the First time.

Second Reading

Mr Speaker: Second Reading, what day?

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: Now, Sir. Sir, I have with me a Certificate of Urgency issued by His Excellency the Governor to proceed with the Bill throughout all its stages.

Certificate of Urgency handed in.

Mr Speaker: The Certificate is in order. Are typed copies of the Bill available for the use of Members?

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: Yes, Sir. In addition, I have also previously circulated them to hon. Members.

Typed copies of the Bill handed in to the Clerk and distributed to hon. Members.

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Mr, speaker, Sir, under the existing Ordinances both in the Federation of Malaya and Singapore, the affairs of the pineapple industry are entrusted to the Malayan Pineapple Industry Board, which is a Pan-Malayan statutory body with a membership of 20, of which 8 represent canners and can-suppliers. The Chairman of the Board is elected from amongst the members and, like the other members, works in an honorary capacity only.

Sir, the pineapple industry in this country during the postwar years and particularly since the latter part of 1956 has encountered many difficulties in the face of ever-increasing competition from other producing countries in overseas markets, and it has become apparent that a continuous and energetic direction is necessary in the conduct of the affairs of this industry, particularly in promoting effective co-ordination in the production, processing and marketing aspects of the industry. It is for this reason, Sir, that this Bill is designed to provide for the joint appointment by the Governor and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of an independent Chairman on a salary basis in place of the present elected Chairman. This measure will also serve to remove the objection which can legitimately be raised to the election of a Chairman who may be said to be the nominee of a particular section of the industry.

It is further considered essential by the two Governments that representation on the Board should appropriately reflect the importance of the different interests concerned in the pineapple industry. Under the present Ordinance the Board is now composed as follows:

One representative of the Singapore Government;

One representative of the Federation Government;

Three representatives of State Governments;

The Director of Agriculture, Federation of Malaya;

The Commissioner for Co-operative Development, Federation of Malaya;

The Chairman of the Canners Representative Association, who is from Singapore;

Six representatives of canners, two of whom are from Singapore;

Two representatives of exporters, both from Singapore;

One representative of can suppliers, also from Singapore;

Three representatives of small growers, all from the Federation.

It is thought that a more equitable representation of the various interests on the Board would be achieved by the proposals in the Bill to delete paragraphs (f) and (j) of section 3 (2) of the present Ordinance, which provides for the appointment on the Board of the Chairman of the Canners Representative Association and a representative of can suppliers respectively. This will have the effect of reducing the canners' representatives by one and will make it unnecessary for a representative of can suppliers to be appointed to the Board.

The other amendments contained in the Bill are merely consequential.

As the Board is Pan-Malayan, parallel action has been taken by the Federation to introduce an amending Bill on identical lines, and the Federation Bill has already been passed at a meeting of the Federal Legislative Council on 31st July.

Sir, I beg to move.

The Minister for Health (Mr A. J. Braga): Sir, I second it.

Question proposed.

11.10 a.m.

Mr Lim Koon Teck (Paya Lebar): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to say that I think it is a very happy move to set on its feet what I believe is the third largest industry in Malaya. During the last few years this industry has received very serious competition from countries like Australia, Africa and, also I think, Taiwan. It is now time for this industry to be set on a Pan-Malayan basis so that all the troubles of the growers and the canners can be solved by one body which I hope and trust will lead to the prosperity of this industry and of Malaya.

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy rose -

Mr Speaker: In reply, Mr Minister?

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: It is a point of clarification, Sir. I think the hon. Member for Paya Lebar is not aware that the industry has already been set on a Pan-Malayan basis since some time back, because a Pan-Malayan Board has already been constituted. This amending Bill is directed at readjusting the number of representatives on the Board and the interests represented. It has been Said by the Federation that the small growers are very much outnumbered and this probably would readjust that.

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 J. M. Jumabhoy].

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