NATIONAL THEATRE FUND (Public donations)

Mr Ong Chang Sam asked the Minister for Culture what was the total amount of public donations to the National Theatre Fund from July to October, 1960, and from July to October, 1961.

Mr Rajaratnam: Donations to the National Theatre for the four months from 1st July to 31st October, 1960, amounted to $88,202, and for the four months from 1st July to 31st October, 1961, to $6,573.

The fund was launched in November 1959, and the response in the first year had been very good indeed. The fund has been kept open for two years now, and it is quite natural that donations should taper off and will possibly come to stop one day.

Mr Ong Chang Sam: (In Mandarin): What plan does the Minister have in regard to the donation campaign for the National Theatre?

Mr Rajaratnam: The campaign for donations was formed two years ago and it is expected that in the course of time, as the donations taper off, that will be the end of the campaign.