SINGAPORE IMPROVEMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

10.02 a.m.

The Minister for Local Government, Lands and Housing (Dato Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat): Mr Speaker, Sir, I move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, this Bill is purely an administrative Bill. The main purpose of this Bill is to give the Rural Board power to levy an improvement rate in the areas excised from the City Council, such as Katong and Braddell Heights, when these areas are transferred to the Rural Board on 1st January, 1959.

As the Ordinance stands at present, the improvement rate can only be levied in the City. In the new Planning Bill, there is provision for all local authorities to levy an improvement rate in their areas. However, the Planning Bill will not be in force by the time the Rural Board takes over these new areas on the 1st of January, 1959.

As regards Katong and Braddell Heights, the City Council at present levies an improvement rate in these areas, and it is considered that the rate should continue to be levied when the Rural Board takes over.

There is also provision in the Bill for the Minister to exempt any areas from payment of an improvement rate. It is therefore proposed that, for the time being, exemption should be given in respect of Ulu Pandan and Pasir Panjang when the Rural Board hands them over to the City Council on 1st January, 1959. An improvement rate is not at present levied in these areas.

These provisions of which I have spoken are contained in clause 3 of the Bill. Clauses 2 and 4 and the Schedule are all consequential amendments.

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. [Dato Abdul Hamid].

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