AUCTIONEERS' LICENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.27 p.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Inche Yaacob Bin Mohamed Al-Haj) (for the Prime Minister): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, the purpose of this Bill is to transfer the power to issue licences for auctioneers, appraisers and house agents from the Commissioner of Lands to the Comptroller of Property Tax. At present, such licences are still being issued by the Commissioner of Lands although the Valuation Section, formerly under the Land Office, was transferred to the Property Tax Division of the Inland Revenue Department of the Ministry of Finance with effect from 1st January, 1961.

In practice, licences are only issued on the recommendation of the Government Valuer who weighs the applicant's experience and qualifications before tendering advice. Owing to the transfer of the Valuers to the Property Tax Division of the Inland Revenue Department, it is neither necessary nor proper for the Commissioner of Lands to continue to issue these licences. Such licences should henceforth be issued by the Comptroller of Property Tax.

This Bill will enable this to be done by amending section 17 of the Auctioneers' Licences Ordinance so that the Comptroller of Property Tax may be appointed Licensing Officer for the purposes of this Ordinance.

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. -[Inche Yaacob Bin Mohamed Al-Haj]

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