PRIVATE LOTTERIES (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

4.41 p.m.

The Minister for Finance (Dr Goh Keng Swee): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have the Yang di-Pertuan Negara's recommendation that this Bill be proceeded with.

Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The object of the Bill is to amend certain sections of the Private Lotteries Ordinance so as to facilitate administration.

Section 4 of the principal Ordinance provides that the Minister may, at his discretion, grant a permit to any person or society for the promotion of a private lottery. He may also withdraw a permit so granted or vary any conditions imposed. At present, the appeal lies to the Yang di-Pertuan Negara from any decision of the Minister. It is now proposed that the power of the Minister in regard to the grant of permits and that of the Yang di-Pertuan Negara in regard to appeals under this section should be transferred to the Commissioner of Estate Duties and the Minister for Finance respectively. It is also proposed that the powers of the Minister under section 3, 5, 6, and 16 of the principal Ordinance should now be transferred to the Commissioner of Estate Duties.

Section 7 of the principal Ordinance is repealed and is replaced by clause 5 of the Bill which prescribes the rates of duty on private lotteries and regularises the present method of calculating the total amount accruing from the operation of fruit machines for the purpose of charging duty. Discretion is given to the Commissioner of Estate Duties when calculating the duty payable to allow deduction for sums previously paid out by the clubs to winners of jackpots.

Clause 8 of the Bill empowers the Minister to authorise the Commissioner to prescribe forms for the purposes of the Ordinance.

Clause 9 of the Bill empowers the Minister to exempt social welfare organisations in receipt of Government grants from the payment of tax on private lotteries sponsored by them for charitable purposes.

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 Goh Keng Swee].

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