MINOR OFFENCES ACT (Prosecutions)

Mr J. F. Conceicao asked the Minister for Home Affairs what was the number of prosecutions during the period 1st January, 1969, to 31st December, 1971, under each of the following sections of the Minor Offences Act: -

(i) section 12 (1) (f) - [Spitting];

(ii) section 14 (g) - [Beating of drums, etc, and blowing of horns, etc.];

(iii) section 14 (h) - [Operation of Gramophones, loudspeakers, etc., at night]; and

(iv) section 14 (i) - [Operation of Gramophones and loudspeakers in public places].

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr L. P. Rodrigo) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, the information sought is as follows:- Offences under the Minor Offences Act (i) Section 12(1)(f) (Spitting) Two prosecutions (ii) Section 14(g)(Beating of drums, etc., and blowing of horns) Nil (iii) Section 14(h)(Operation gramophones loudspeakers, at night) Nil (iv) Section 14(i)(Operation gramophones loudspeakers public places) Nil

However, during the period 1st January to 31st December 1971, 12 persons were prosecuted under section 16 (3) of the Environmental Public Health (Public Cleansing) Regulations, 1970, for spitting, and 86 persons were prosecuted under section 18 (1) (a) of the Public Entertainments Act for providing public entertainment without a licence.

Mr J. F. Conceicao (Katong): Mr Speaker, Sir, with respect to noise, in view of the general, and perhaps understandable, reluctance of people to go through the process of making a complaint to the police about noise, especially from their neighbours, will the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs agree that the solution to the problem of noise nuisance lies in the same direction as the solution to the problem of littering, that is, in educational measures and methods such as social persuasion?

Mr Rodrigo: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have much pleasure in agreeing with the Member.