NATIONAL THEATRE TRUST BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

4.04 p.m.

The Minister for Culture (Mr S. Rajaratnam): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

I want, first of all, to recapitulate, very briefly, the events leading up to the presentation of this Bill before the Assembly.

Almost a year ago, a public appeal was launched by the Government, on the eve of National Loyalty Week, for contributions for a fund to build a national theatre. Its purpose was two-fold. The first was to set up a permanent memorial to mark the attainment of self -government by the people of Singapore. The second was to make the National Theatre a symbol affirming our faith in our ability to create a Malayan nation and a Malayan culture through united action.

There were two ways in which the Government could have approached this project. It could have adopted the old patriarchal approach. A benevolent and an all-powerful government could have voted the money necessary for the project; it could have built the theatre and presented it to the people as yet another example of the omnipotence and benevolence of Government.

The other way was to make the National Theatre an object lesson in self-reliance and joint endeavour. Since the National Theatre was to be a symbol of our will to be a nation, it was decided that the National Theatre should be the fruit of popular endeavour with Government and every stratum of the population participating in it. It would not be a Government theatre or a theatre built through the efforts of this or that group, but of every section of the population.

And that is what the National Theatre project has turned out to be. Funds for it have come from all classes and all races. Cultural organisations from all races have organised concerts and shows to add, little by little, to the fund. So have many civic and sports organisations. So have trade unions and political parties and business concerns. So have thousands of individuals ranging from the well-to-do to farmers, hawkers and to school children.

To date, over $600,000 have been contributed by the public, and though nearly a year has passed, many organisations and groups still have plans to put up shows and activities to increase the fund. I should like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have spent so much time, energy and money to augment the National Theatre Fund.

This Bill to set up a National Theatre Trust seeks to ensure that the management of the Theatre remains a public affair too. Right from the start, the Government set up a representative National Theatre Fund Committee to be in charge of getting funds for the Theatre. It included representatives of the Press unions, cultural organisations and businessmen, and though their work has been sustained and time-consuming, their enthusiasm has not waned.

Now that plans have been approved for the Theatre and an architect appointed, the time has come to create a proper machinery for the administration of the Theatre. In appointing members to the Board, the Government will bear in mind the principle that what has been paid for by the public should also be administered by the public.

Also those appointed to the Board will be people who can administer the Theatre properly for the ends for which it was designed, that is, to stimulate the growth and appreciation of art, music, and drama, and through these to foster a Malayan culture and a Malayan identity.

The first job of the Board will be to take over the Fund which is now held by Government in trust for the public and use it in such manner as they deem fit in accordance with the objects specified in clause 6 of the Bill. When the Theatre is completed, it will be the duty of the Board to manage it, consistent with the objects for which it was built.

When the time is ripe, it is hoped that all other theatrical institutions now under the control of the Government will also be passed on to the Board.

Clauses 9 and 10 of the Bill provide for the presentation of the Board's annual report and statement of accounts to the Assembly so that this House is kept informed of the Board's activities.

The essential thing to bear in mind about the National Theatre is that it is proof that people of diverse races, creeds and classes can work together on their own for the realisation of a common objective.

For it is only in common endeavours of this kind that we learn that diversity of race, language and religion are barriers only in the warped minds of communal demagogues.

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.-[Mr Rajaratnam].

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