CIVIL DEFENCE (SINGAPORE AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE - SERVICE) RULES, 1958

11.27 a.m.

The Chief Secretary (Mr E. B. David): Sir, I beg to move,

That this Assembly, pursuant to subsection (1) of section 5 of the Civil Defence Ordinance (Chapter 73), resolves that the Civil Defence (Singapore Auxiliary Fire Service - Service) Rules, 1958, made on the 23rd day of December, 1958, published as Gazette Notification No. S 4 of the 2nd January, 1959, and as contained in Sessional Paper No. S.L. 1 of 1959, be approved.

Sir, the Auxiliary Fire Service forms part of Singapore's Civil Defence organisation and, apart from one Staff Officer who is a regular fireman, is manned entirely by volunteers. Unlike other branches of the organisation, however, no rules have yet been made that clearly lay down the liability of members on enrolling into the service. The rules now before the House seek to rectify this omission by making detailed provisions in regard to hours of attendance, discipline and the type of service to which a member is liable. On this last point, the rules bring into being for the first time a reserve into which trained members can be transferred after completing the initial period of their enrolment. They are thus readily available in times of emergency.

The rules also make active and reserve members liable for mobilisation in the event of an emergency - a liability that is essential if the regular Fire Brigade is to be expanded quickly and efficiently at short notice. It is also to be noted that the adoption of these rules will give the members of the Auxiliary Fire Service the same liability in regard to training, discipline and service as members of the other branches of the Civil Defence Corps.

Further rules in respect of rates of pay for mobilised service and pensions for injury are in course of preparation.

Sir, I beg to move.

The Attorney-General (Mr E. P. Shanks): Sir, I second the motion.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Assembly, pursuant to subsection (1) of section 5 of the Civil Defence Ordinance (Chapter 73), resolves that the Civil Defence (Singapore Auxiliary Fire Service- Service) Rules, 1958, made on the 23rd day of December, 1958, published as Gazette Notification No. S 4 of the 2nd January, 1959, and as contained in Sessional Paper No. S.L. 1 of 1959, be approved.