ELECTION OF SPEAKER (Tribute)

3.21 p.m.

The Leader of the House (Mr E.W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I, on behalf of all Members of this House, extend to you our congratulations on your re-election as Speaker. This is the fourth time that you have been elected to this high office and your twelfth year in the Chair.

You, Sir, have served longer than any of your predecessors, all of whom had the advantage of training in the law. Many of the functions and a great deal of the ritual associated with your office have a judicial flavour. But you have shown that the lack of legal training has been of no disadvantage and that impartiality, even if it has to be judicial, is not a monopoly of the legal profession.

In paying tribute to you, Sir, I must not forget your staff. The Clerk, Mr Lopez, has done yeoman's service ever since 1954. He is our last word on the Standing Orders. Your Translators are good. They have to be good in order to translate some of the speeches in this House simultaneously. Your Reporters are accurate.

Mr Speaker, Sir, our Fifth Parliament begins today. A voice louder and stronger than mine has warned that the years, if not months, ahead may be grim. Should dark clouds gather in our sky, I would prefer to look for a silver lining. We have survived more than one crisis before and after we gained independence. During our trials and tribulations the Singaporean has proved to be resolute, resilient and resourceful. It will take more than an earthquake to bring this town to rack and ruin.

Sir, I seek your indulgence if I appear to be too confident. But like many other Honourable Members in this House, I do not relish the thought of spending my old age on my bended knees. Hence our relentless but not desperate search for fresh talent.

It is on that note that I have now great pleasure in welcoming our 18 new Members to this enlarged Chamber of 75. Allow me, Sir, to remind them that the country and the Party are looking forward to their contributions within and will be closely watching, if not monitoring, their performances outside this House. A bit of advice from an old hand should not hurt. No Member will stray from the straight and narrow path if he always lets his conscience be his guide.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: I thank the Minister for Law and Science and Technology for his very kind words about me.

I am most grateful to the House for the great honour it has bestowed on me by relecting me to the Chair and I hope that I shall prove worthy of the confidence it has in me.

When I was first called to the Chair a little over eleven years ago, I was overcome with awe, being deeply conscious then, as I still am now, of the responsibilities of this High Office. Happily, through the years, my task in the Chair was made easier by the warm friendship, understanding and tolerance of honourable Members and I am most grateful to the honourable Members who were in the House during those years for their cooperation. I am sure that I shall continue to receive the support of honourable Members and together we will maintain the high tradiions of this House.

In the past, I was conscious of the enthusiasm of honourable Members to participate in debates in the House and I assure them that Members who wish to speak will not fail to catch my eye. Honourable Members will, however, appreciate that precise and relevant speeches, with touches of humour, make for effective and stimulating debates, and I took forward to presiding over many such debates.

I wish to welcome the honourable Members who have just joined us. They would be aware that the proceedings of this House are governed by the Standing Orders so that a knowledge of the Standing Orders, no matter how superficial, would help towards a better understanding of the procedure of this House. The Clerk and his Assistants are always available for advice.

Once again, I thank the House for the high honour it has bestowed on me and for the trust it has placed in me.