MINISTRY OF CULTURE

The mass media exert an immense impact on the lives of the people. The influence they have on our young in their formative years makes scrutiny and regular review of our mass media policies crucial. The Ministry of Culture's responsibility in inculcating values and attitudes necessary for a robust and sturdy society is particularly difficult, because a significant bulk of TV and radio programmes from the west tend to undermine our efforts to counter the drug and hippie culture.

More local productions with the main focus on our youth and their future responsibility will feature more regularly on Radio and Television programmes. The Ministry will continue to encourage creative effort and nurture talent. Monthly art exhibitions at the community centres, and helping the Singapore Arts Council to set up a modest Art Gallery are steps forward in the right direction.

Our library facilities have to be expanded to cope with the needs of an increasingly literate society. A full-time branch library in Toa Payoh will be ready in early 1973. Another for the next satellite town by 1974. These libraries provide an oasis of quiet and congenial environment for recreational and serious reading in our high-rise satellite towns.

The Printing Office has now been reorganised to run along commercial lines. The technique of offset printing is rapidly improving. It is expected that the Printing Office will ultimately be a cost-effective unit.

The People's Association will provide better facilities and new activities to meet the more demanding needs of a better-educated generation. The younger generation expects more sophisticated facilities for their recreation.