PEOPLE'S ASSOCIATION (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

The Minister for Finance (Dr Goh Keng Swee): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill he now read a Second time."

Over three years have passed since the People's Association Ordinance came into operation on 1st July, 1960. In the light of experience, it is necessary to amend the Ordinance to enable certain reorganisation to be made, especially in the membership to the Board. Hitherto, three Ministers sat on the Board and one of two Ministers must be a party to the signing of cheques. The object of the Bill is to reduce the number of Ministers to two and to make it easier for cheques to be signed. Provision is made for a member of the Corporation to be appointed as Secretary/Treasurer, instead of tying the post to the Director of Social Welfare, which in practice has not been found to be always satisfactory. There is no change in the total membership of the Board, which remains at 14.

The People's Association's symbol is now well known in Singapore, and it is necessary to safeguard its use to prevent plagiarism by anybody in Singapore.

There are other minor amendments, and all these provide for the more efficient administration in the People's Association.

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.