PINEAPPLE INDUSTRY (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

4.26 p.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (Mr Low Por Tuck): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This Bill seeks to amend the provisions of the Pineapple Industry Ordinance so as to give legal effect to Government's policy for the Malayan Pineapple industry contained in Command Paper No. 24 of 1960 which was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on the 25th October, 1960. Corresponding legislation has been passed by the Federation House of Representatives on the 30th November, 1960.

The present Malayan Pineapple Industry Board, which consists of seventeen members, has been found to be too unwieldy, and clause 2 reconstitutes the Board.

The present functions of the Board are not precisely set out and have been re-drafted in clause 4.

It is considered that there is no room in the Board for two full-time senior Administrative Officers, and clause 5 abolishes the statutory post of Chief Executive Officer and transfer to the Board the power to appoint such staff as it considers necessary.

For flexibility and efficiency, the statutory Executive Committee is also abolished and its powers transferred to the Board under clause 6.

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 Low Por Tuck].

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