Hansard, 1958-04-09

The following Members have, under the provisions of subsection (3) (i) of section 47 of the Singapore Colony Order in Council, 1955, obtained from the Speaker, permission to be or to remain absent from meetings of the Assembly: Inche Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat - from 30th January to 9th February 1958, and on 9th April, 1958. Inche Ahmad Bin Ibrahim - three months from 28th March, 1958.

Mr Edgeworth Beresford David, C.M.G., Chief Secretary, took and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance. Mr Ernest Pattison Shanks, Q.C., Attorney-General, took and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance. Mr Tan Siak Kew (Nominated), made an Affirmation of Allegiance.

I have to inform Honourable Members that His Excellency the Governor will be present in this Assembly at five minutes past ten o'clock to deliver his opening speech for the Third Session of this Assembly. The House will now await the announcement by the Serjeant at Arms of His Excellency's approach. After His Excellency has delivered his speech, the Assembly will stand adjourned to a date to be named by the Chief Minister in accordance with paragraph 4 (a) of Standing Order 10. The Serjeant at Arms announced the approach of His Excellency the Governor. Mr Speaker, preceded by the Serjeant at Arms and followed by the Clerk, the Clerk Assistant and the Second Clerk Assistant, left the Chamber to receive His Excellency. His Excellency the Governor entered the Chamber, accompanied by Mr Speaker who was preceded by the Serjeant at Arms, the Second Clerk Assistant, the Clerk Assistant and the Clerk. On the Clerk announcing "His Excellency the Governor", the Governor delivered his Opening Speech.

His Excellency the Governor (Sir William Goode, K.C.M.G.): Honourable Members, since the Second Session of this First Legislative Assembly, the Government, in conformity with its declared stand for the early attainment of complete internal self-government, has with the co-operation of political parties represented in this House achieved an agreement last year in London for a new Constitution. The Government of Singapore will take over the complete internal self-government of this island. The Federation of Malaya will share responsibility in the field of internal security. The United Kingdom Government will continue to discharge her responsibilities in the field of external relations and defence. The new Constitution will give to the people of this island the opportunity they have sought and the right they have demanded to manage their own affairs. Singapore exists because of its trade. Under the new Constitution the Government of the State of Singapore, acting with the assent of the United Kingdom Government, will have the power to initiate and conduct matters concerning trade and cultural relations with other countries. There is provision in this field to extend the scope of delegated authority. It is unlikely that a responsible Government interested in the welfare of the people and the prosperity of this island will find this agreement restrictive. Again, since the Second Session of this Assembly, the Federation of Malaya has emerged as a sovereign independent state. The Government is happy to record the continued cordial relationship which it enjoys with the Government of the Federation of Malaya. The Government takes the stand that union with the Federation is inevitable, and will direct its energies towards creating a climate and conditions conducive to such a union. The Government intends to recommend to the Assembly the holding of elections for an enlarged Assembly under the new Constitution as soon as it is practically possible to do so. The timetable will depend on the preparation and enactment of the necessary constitutional instruments and legislation as well as any measures which this Assembly may decide to adopt in order to improve the electoral procedure. The Government intends that the agreement with the United Kingdom Government on the form of the constitutional instruments should be made by the All-Party delegation which took part in the Constitutional discussion last year. The Government proposes to hold elections for District Councils in the middle of this year at which some 233,000 persons will be eligible to vote on a residential franchise. Besides the three District Councils there will be a Southern Islands Local Council for the Southern Islands composed of an official Chairman, three nominated members and nine ketua elected by ballot. The necessary legislation will be introduced during this Session. These elected Councils will take over the functions of the Rural Board. The policy of holding civics courses for representative groups of people from all parts of Singapore has proved very successful and will be continued in order to promote a better understanding among the citizens of what the Government is doing for them. The Government will continue with its determined efforts to combat crime, gangster and secret society activities. Legislation will be introduced to increase the penalties for kidnapping and to facilitate the work of the Police in combating this menace. The increased awareness by the public for the need to give all possible assistance to the police is encouraging. The Government hopes that this will be continued in greater measure. The Government will continue its vigilance in countering Communist infiltration and subversion and will not hesitate to take whatever steps are required to counter this threat to the livelihood and well-being of the citizens of Singapore. The Government will maintain the established high standards of efficiency and morale of the Police and of the 1st Battalion of the Singapore Regiment which is now over 400 strong. The Government of the Federation of Malaya has decided that its broadcasting service should be run separately from that of Singapore. The Government will ensure that the needs of Singapore in this field are adequately met after the separation takes place. The Government recognises the need to offer incentive to capital investment in the industrial field in the initial stages and with this in view is now preparing "pioneer industry" legislation. Government Departments have been instructed and subsidised Boards have been requested to give preference to locally manufactured articles. An expert from Canada under the Colombo Plan is already in Malaya and will shortly carry out a survey of the Colony's industrial potential and markets. The establishment of an Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research in concert with the Federation of Malaya is now under discussion with the Government of the Federation of Malaya. It is the Government's intention to reorganise and strengthen the industrial section of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the possibility of the present Industrial Promotion Board actively assisting in the promotion of large scale industries is being studied. The Government will continue to do everything in its power to encourage entrepot trade. Promotion of tourism has gained considerable impetus during the last few months and steps are being taken towards the establishment of a strong Singapore Tourist Association. The drive to produce more home grown food will receive further impetus when the Sembawang Station starts operating and the results of research now being carried out are made available to farmers. A Rural Development Panel to plan and execute a comprehensive rural development scheme is being set up under the Chief Minister. It is the Government's intention to take all necessary steps to increase the supply of fish and to assist local fishermen who are willing to be trained in new methods of fishing. The Government is giving considerable thought and study to the Report of the Port Commission. The Government is seeking the agreement of neighbouring governments to a proposal to enlarge the area of command for local trade masters and to the introduction of a restricted home trade engineer's certificate. Means of increasing revenue in order to meet the mounting cost of essential social and other services are being explored and all possible steps are being taken to reduce expenditure to the minimum consistent with the efficient operation of the machinery of Government. Steps will be taken to co-ordinate the development plans of the Government, the City Council and other statutory bodies in the light of the funds likely to be available for capital development in the future. The question of the introduction of legislation for the licensing, control and supervision of banks is being examined in consultation with the Government of the Federation of Malaya and discussions on the question of central banking will continue with that Government. The Government pledges itself not to make any arrangement which might undermine confidence in the currency in use in Singapore or jeopardise its stability. The Government will continue its policy of seeking to give every child the chance to have primary education up to the age of 14. Twenty Primary schools are now being built and plans are in hand for fifteen more. In accordance with the policy of the Government, these schools will be allocated for Malay, Chinese and English language teaching according to the parents' choice and available staff. In the densely populated city area, a multi-storey building at Silat Road will house three schools at each session - a total of over 4,000 people for a single building. Six new secondary schools are being built, and two others will be provided by conversion of existing buildings. A further six are at the planning stage. Since neither funds nor staff are available for universal secondary education, a system of evening classes has been introduced and will be expanded. By this means up to 5,000 students will be able to continue their education in Chinese or English, to take Government Senior Middle III, School Certificate, Royal Society of Arts or commercial examinations. To provide teachers for this large programme, a new Teachers' Training College is planned in addition to the one recently completed at Patterson Road. It will provide both Certificate and Normal courses in Chinese, Malay and English. Proposals for a Commission of Scholars to advise on recognition of Nanyang University degrees are going forward. The University of Malaya is introducing part-time training for their teaching diplomas. The Government has also provided improved and expanded means of apprenticeship training giving both practical and classroom instruction in the technical skills Singapore needs, and linked in appropriate cases with the new Polytechnic. To provide for the leisure of Singapore's youthful population, a large expansion in youth clubs and youth organisation is in hand, and training courses are being given in Chinese, Malay and English. Special services, including a Borstal and a Junior Approved School, will be provided to save from criminal life young men who have been led into juvenile delinquency. In accordance with the Government's policy of expanding the medical services 1,500 free hospital beds have been added during the past two years. Buildings for providing 800 more beds are now under construction and it is hoped that they will be completed before the end of the year. In addition, the Institute of Health - a joint project shared by the Government, the City Council and the University - is due to be opened this month. This will provide training facilities for medical and para-medical personnel besides Maternity and Child Welfare and School Medical Services. The hospital for the chronic sick is nearing completion and the Government anticipates that its 400 beds will be ready for use early next year. The Government has planned to build ten Outpatient clinics, construction on the first three of which will commence this year. The Tuberculosis case-finding programme with the Australian Colombo Plan assistance is scheduled to start in July this year. There are at present 78 medical staff in training overseas, compared with 68 in 1955. During the last two years 53 medical personnel have returned after their training in overseas countries. In 1958, 127 scholarships, fellowships and training courses have been made available for studies overseas or in the University of Malaya. There are under construction 4,971 housing units and 127 shops, most of which will be completed by the end of this year. A further programme of 3,500 ordinary dwellings, flats and shops will shortly come before this House for financial approval. To carry out future building programmes, the Singapore Improvement Trust will be converted into a Development and Housing Authority and planning duties will be dealt with separately. The special housing needs of the Malays are being provided for by expanded Malay settlements at Ayer Gemuroh, Jalan Eunos and West Coast Road. Land Clearance and Resettlement though a difficult task has enabled progress to be made in public housing and development and will continue on a larger scale during 1958. Singapore has only 225 square miles of land. Population at present is 6,600 per square mile, and may by 1967 be 10,000 per square mile. Consequently, long-term planning is necessary to make sure that all land is used in the best way and not wasted. The Master Plan provides the basis for necessary control of land use. A Notice of Approval will soon be gazetted, and amending legislation to the Singapore Improvement Ordinance will be presented to this Assembly during this Session to provide means of implementing the Master Plan. The recommendations of the Caine and Brocklehurst Reports have been examined, and the Government proposes to introduce during 1958 social insurance schemes based on contributions by both employers and workers. Such schemes cannot all operate immediately, but provided these policies are steadfastly followed, workers will in a few years be protected from sickness, old age, unemployment and similar handicaps. In addition, the Government will continue day-to-day services of public assistance and will continue to support those voluntary agencies which supplement the work of Government in the field of welfare. Amending legislation relating to the Labour, Legal Aid and the Shop Assistants Employment Ordinances will be introduced. Fresh legislation to improve the safety, health and welfare conditions of workmen employed in factories and to regulate the establishment of employment agencies are receiving the attention of Government and will be introduced during this Session. The Government pledges itself anew to safeguard the welfare of the people of Singapore, to raise their level of living and to use this last Session towards achieving these ends. The Government is confident that when General Elections are held the people and the new citizens of this island will express in definite and unmistakable terms their desire for a stable Government which can and will act not only democratically but also responsibly - a Government which will be ever mindful of the dependence of this island's economy on the trade which it must promote and expand and the goodwill which it must cultivate to ensure that this trade and commerce do not diminish or suffer in any way - an economy ever sensitive and responsive to political conditions created within and without. The people will have an opportunity at the General Elections to bring into being a Government capable of interpreting their desire and need for stability, security and prosperity. This Government has endeavoured during its life to fulfil this role. When it lays down its office, it will take pride in the service it has given and the stewardship it is prepared to render to the citizens of Singapore. At the conclusion of the Governor's Speech, Mr Speaker, preceded by the Serjeant at Arms, the Clerk, the Clerk Assistant and the Second Clerk Assistant, escorted His Excellency out of the Chamber, and the Assembly adjourned without question put, pursuant to the Standing Order. Adjourned accordingly at 10.32 a.m.