SALARY OF SPEAKER

The Prime Minister: Mr Kandasamy, Sir, I beg to move the motion* which stands in my name.

• The motion reads as follows:

"That this Assembly, pursuant to section 36 of the Singapore (Constitution) Order in Council, 1958, resolves that the salary of the Speaker with effect from 1st June, 1960, shall be $2,825 a month.

Members are aware that under the Constitution, for one year from the date of the promulgation of the Constitution, the emoluments of the Speaker cannot be altered by this Assembly. The Constitution was promulgated on the 3rd of June, 1959, and on the 3rd of June this year, if we follow the exact letter of the Constitution, the office of Speaker will fall vacant and the emolument of the Speaker will then have to be determined under section 36 of the Singapore (Constitution) Order in Council.

Sir, the present emolument of the Speaker is a sum of $3,000. I think Members are aware that some painful reductions were made from civil servants, Ministers and all those who served the State. Since then certain allowances have been awarded to professional officers. The reason for the sum of $175 being taken off the $3,000 is simply this. If Members will look at the debate fixing the original salary at $3,000, they will find that the sum was arrived at by taking into account the variable allowances which were then paid to Judges and other officers of the State. Therefore, in that $3,000, there was a built-in variable allowance of $400. As we all hope the next incumbent will be properly qualified to discharge his duties properly, if we are to treat him with fairness and justice, as we have treated all other officers of the State, we have to take away the sum of $400 and return the sum of $225, which is the professional allowance paid to all professional officers of the State. Hence the figure of $2,825 arrived at.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Assembly, pursuant to section 36 of the Singapore (Constitution) Order in Council, 1958, resolves that the salary of the Speaker with effect from 1st June, 196,0 shall be $2,825 a month.