MERCHANT SHIPPING (AMENDMENT NO. 3) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

4.47 p.m.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, the purpose of this Bill is to increase the revenue of the Marine and Marine Survey Departments. The Merchant Shipping Ordinance contains certain provisions which are to ensure that ships are properly manned with crews who are fully qualified to perform their functions. In this way efficiency on board ship and safety at sea is preserved. In order to do so, it is necessary that crews of ships be examined.

The Marine Department carries out such examinations, and if those who sit for these examinations so fulfil the standards required of them, the Marine Department grants them certificates of competency.

There is a Schedule of fees laid down in the Ordinance for these examinations. The Schedule contains the maximum fees that can be charged for these examinations. As it is now intended that the examination fees should be increased, it is necessary therefore that this Schedule should also be revised, so that new maxima will be laid.

One other possibility by which the Marine Department can levy fees is to charge fees for matters transacted at the Shipping Offices, for example, when shipping companies wish to engage or discharge crew. But there also is a Schedule of fees for work carried out in registering the engagement or discharge of ships' crew. Here, too, it is intended to raise the maxima of the fees carried out for this work.

In 1957, the sum of money collected from these two Schedules amounted to $21,191.50. In 1958, it was $28,495.50 and in 1959, it was $27,729.00. It is estimated that with the revised Schedules, there will be an increase of $11,700.00 annually.

Actually, I would say that there is little profit made out of the work carried out in conjunction with these examinations and with the work carried out in registering crew who are being engaged or discharged. It is not the intention of the Marine Department or the Government to make a profit out of examination fees, but I am sure all Members in this House will agree that the total cost of the services which Government is bound to provide under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance must at least be recovered from those persons for whom the services are performed.

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.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.-[Dr Toh Chin Chye]

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair]

4.52 p.m.

Clause 1 -

The Chairman (Mr Kandasamy): There are notes:

(1) In page 1, line 5, to leave out "No. 3".

(2) In page 1, line 5, to leave out "1959" and insert "1960".

That will be done.

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 2 and 3 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

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