Hansard, 1961-03-22

PERMISSION TO MEMBERS TO BE ABSENT The following Members have, under the provisions of subsection (2) (g) of section 42 of the Singapore (Constitution) Order in Council, 1958, obtained from the Speaker, permission to be or to remain absent from sittings of the Assembly:- Mr Tan Kia Gan (Paya Lebar), Minister for National Development - from 6th to 14th March, 1961. Mr Lim Cheng Lock (River Valley) - from 20th March to 3rd April, 1961.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INDONESIAN RHIO WATERS CLOSED TO SINGAPORE COASTAL - VESSELS - (Effect on Singapore Seamen and Singapore's economy) asked the Deputy Prime Minister to state whether, and why Indonesian Rhio waters are now closed to Singapore coastal vessels, to what extent this has affected the employment of Singapore seamen and Singapore's economy, and what the Government proposes to do to assist the people adversely affected.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INDONESIAN RHIO WATERS CLOSED TO SINGAPORE COASTAL - VESSELS - (Effect on Singapore Seamen and Singapore's economy) As far as the Singapore Government is aware, Indonesian waters are not closed to Singapore coastal vessels. We have not received any indication that there is any such ban on non-Indonesian vessels.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INDONESIAN RHIO WATERS CLOSED TO SINGAPORE COASTAL - VESSELS - (Effect on Singapore Seamen and Singapore's economy) Mr Speaker, Sir, is the Deputy Prime Minister aware that the new conditions imposed are such that they practically make it difficult for Singapore seamen to be employed on Singapore vessels going to Indonesian waters?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INDONESIAN RHIO WATERS CLOSED TO SINGAPORE COASTAL - VESSELS - (Effect on Singapore Seamen and Singapore's economy) What is the Member for Tanglin talking about? I have just said that we do not know for a fact that non-Indonesian vessels are being prohibited from entering Rhio waters. I do not understand what conditions the Member for Tanglin is referring to.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INDONESIAN RHIO WATERS CLOSED TO SINGAPORE COASTAL - VESSELS - (Effect on Singapore Seamen and Singapore's economy) It seems to be a different question anyway.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INDONESIAN RHIO WATERS CLOSED TO SINGAPORE COASTAL - VESSELS - (Effect on Singapore Seamen and Singapore's economy) Is the Deputy Prime Minister aware that such a report appeared in the local Press?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INDONESIAN RHIO WATERS CLOSED TO SINGAPORE COASTAL - VESSELS - (Effect on Singapore Seamen and Singapore's economy) The trouble with the Members of the Opposition is this; that they follow the footsteps of the Member for Tanglin and believe that every printed word is the gospel truth. I would, however, recommend him to read the less sensational parts of the newspapers.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INDONESIAN RHIO WATERS CLOSED TO SINGAPORE COASTAL - VESSELS - (Effect on Singapore Seamen and Singapore's economy) Mr Speaker, I have not yet got an answer to my question.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INDONESIAN RHIO WATERS CLOSED TO SINGAPORE COASTAL - VESSELS - (Effect on Singapore Seamen and Singapore's economy) What the local Press publishes is not my business. I have given an answer.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INDONESIAN RHIO WATERS CLOSED TO SINGAPORE COASTAL - VESSELS - (Effect on Singapore Seamen and Singapore's economy) No Ministerial responsibility. Tun Lim.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INDONESIAN RHIO WATERS CLOSED TO SINGAPORE COASTAL - VESSELS - (Effect on Singapore Seamen and Singapore's economy) It is because of the report in the local Press that there has been disquiet in the minds of the people concerned. Surely, if there has been no such knowledge on the part of the Government that there is such a restriction, then it would be advisable for the Government to set at rest the minds of those people who are misled by the Press?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INDONESIAN RHIO WATERS CLOSED TO SINGAPORE COASTAL - VESSELS - (Effect on Singapore Seamen and Singapore's economy) The answer is very simple. Supposing the local Press reports that a space ship from Mars has landed at Bukit Timah Heights in Singapore. I suppose Members of the Opposition will also ask questions in the Assembly.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INDONESIAN RHIO WATERS CLOSED TO SINGAPORE COASTAL - VESSELS - (Effect on Singapore Seamen and Singapore's economy) The landing in Singapore of a space ship from Mars does not affect the rice-bowls of the people of Singapore, but the banning of ships in Indonesian waters does.- [Interruption].

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - INDONESIAN RHIO WATERS CLOSED TO SINGAPORE COASTAL - VESSELS - (Effect on Singapore Seamen and Singapore's economy) Order. I think we are entering into a debate. Inche Mohamed Ali.

MOBILE CLINICS IN CITY AND RURAL AREAS asked the Minister for Health what is the number of mobile clinics operating in the City Area and in the Rural Areas; and whether the treatment given by such clinics is free of charge.

MOBILE CLINICS IN CITY AND RURAL AREAS Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked to reply. It is presumed that the question refers to travelling dispensaries and not travelling clinics. In which case, the answer is that no mobile or travelling dispensaries are operating at present in the City area. There are, however, four travelling dispensaries operating in the rural areas, and the treatment given in these travelling dispensaries is free.

MOBILE CLINICS IN CITY AND RURAL AREAS (In Malay): Mr Speaker, is it the intention of the Government to increase the number of travelling dispensaries?

MOBILE CLINICS IN CITY AND RURAL AREAS Can the Member please repeat the question?

MOBILE CLINICS IN CITY AND RURAL AREAS (In Malay): Mr Speaker, is it the intention of the Government to increase the figure mentioned?

MOBILE CLINICS IN CITY AND RURAL AREAS Mr Speaker, Sir, can I please ask the Member whether he is referring to these travelling dispensaries in the City or the rural areas?

MOBILE CLINICS IN CITY AND RURAL AREAS (In Malay): Concerning the four travelling dispensaries operating in the rural areas, I wish to know whether the number mentioned will be increased.

MOBILE CLINICS IN CITY AND RURAL AREAS Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not envisaged that the number will be increased, but the Government will build more clinics in the rural areas to serve the people. It is felt that a travelling dispensary is only a very temporary provision for the medical services compared to a rural clinic.

MOBILE CLINICS IN CITY AND RURAL AREAS (In Malay): Mr Speaker, according to the information supplied, the medical treatment given is free. But to the best of my knowledge, some time ago 50 cents was charged for each treatment. When will such fees be waived?

MOBILE CLINICS IN CITY AND RURAL AREAS As I mentioned previously, there were two types of travelling dispensaries. One was the city travelling dispensary and the other was the rural travelling dispensary. The city travelling dispensaries were previously controlled by the City Council, and it was necessary for those who attended the city travelling dispensaries to pay 50 cents for treatment. Since 1959, however, because of better services being provided in the City, it was deemed unnecessary to carry on with the city travelling dispensaries. Hence all the travelling dispensaries were shifted to the rural areas. Therefore, no payment was asked for.

GOVERNMENT QUARTERS asked the Minister for Finance to state the number of Government quarters (a) occupied by Government employees, (b) rented out to non-Government employees, and (c) still vacant; whether the renting out of vacant quarters to non-Government employees has been stopped and the reasons for this decision.

GOVERNMENT QUARTERS Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of Government quarters occupied by Government employees is 6,280. The number of Government quarters rented out to non-Government employees is 47. The number of Government quarters currently vacant is also 47. The renting out of quarters to non-Government employees other than the Polytechnic employees recruited from overseas has stopped since July 1960. The reason is that the remaining quarters are being reserved for officers and experts in various technical lines now being recruited from overseas.

MALAY GOVERNMENT OFFICERS - (Number promoted to Executive Service) asked the Minister for Finance to state the number of serving Malay officers who were promoted to the Executive Service in February 1961.

MALAY GOVERNMENT OFFICERS - (Number promoted to Executive Service) No serving Malay officers were appointed to the grade of Executive Officers in February 1961. But two Malay Executive Officers were promoted as Higher Executive Officers in that month.

MALAY GOVERNMENT OFFICERS - (Number promoted to Executive Service) Could the Minister confirm, Sir, that in February 1961, 33 officers were promoted to the Executive Service with effect from 1st January, 1961, and that none of these officers were Malay officers?

MALAY GOVERNMENT OFFICERS - (Number promoted to Executive Service) I confirm.

MALAY GOVERNMENT OFFICERS - (Number promoted to Divisions I and II) asked the Minister for Finance to state the number of serving Malay officers who have been promoted to Divisions I and II of the Public Service since May 1960.

MALAY GOVERNMENT OFFICERS - (Number promoted to Divisions I and II) Mr Speaker, Sir, since May 1960, the numbers of serving Malay officers who have been promoted are as follows: (a) Two officers from Division I Timescale to Division I Superscale. (b) Two officers from Division I Lower Grade to Division I Higher Grade. (c) Three officers from Division II to Division I. (d) One officer from Division II Lower Grade to Division II Higher Grade. (e) Three officers from Division III to Division II. In addition, the following numbers of Malay serving officers have been approved for promotion. As soon as formalities are completed, these officers will be notified of their promotions:-

MALAY GOVERNMENT OFFICERS - (Number recruited to General Clerical Service) asked the Minister for Finance to state the number of Malays recruited to the General Clerical Service since November 1960.

MALAY GOVERNMENT OFFICERS - (Number recruited to General Clerical Service) Mr Speaker, this question refers to the number of Malays recruited to the General Clerical Service since November 1960. The answer is that no recruitment of any officer has been made in the General Clerical Service since November 1960. Advertisements inviting applications for the General Clerical Service were published on 29th December, 1960. Selection is now in the hands of the Public Service Commission who will make the necessary arrangements for interviews and so forth.

MALAY GOVERNMENT OFFICERS - (Number recruited to General Clerical Service) Would the Minister indicate if some of the new applicants would come from the Malay community?

MALAY GOVERNMENT OFFICERS - (Number recruited to General Clerical Service) Mr Speaker, Sir, I have not seen the forms of application, so I can give no indication. But I would say it is quite likely that they would include a number of young men and women of the Malay race.

NATIONAL LANGUAGE WEEK OR MONTH asked the Minister for Culture whether he will hold a National Language Week or Month.

NATIONAL LANGUAGE WEEK OR MONTH Mr Speaker, Sir, we have a number of schemes to popularise and teach the National Language, and the holding of a Language Week is one of them. The Head of the Dewan Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Kebangsaan is working on a scheme to make people more conscious of the need to learn the National Language. In the middle of this year, we will be introducing Suara Singapura, which will be held to stimulate interest in the understanding of the National Language. However, I cannot indicate at the moment what form the Language Week will take, because we must take into consideration the special conditions in Singapore. Singapore is largely a non-Malay speaking territory and so a campaign of this kind, while stimulating the people to use the national language, should not cause undue inconvenience to administration and business. Furthermore, the campaign must be planned in such a way as to make it easy and practical for non-Malay speaking citizens as well to participate in it effectively. In fact, the effectiveness and usefulness of such a campaign would be lost if it is of so ambitious and complex a nature that the majority of the people cannot participate in it, not because they do not want to but because it demands things beyond their capacity.

NATIONAL LANGUAGE WEEK OR MONTH (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, could the Minister concerned state definitely when a National Language Week or Month will be held this year?

NATIONAL LANGUAGE WEEK OR MONTH Mr Speaker, Sir, I have said earlier that I cannot indicate at the moment when and in what form the National Language Week would take, but we are working on it and as soon as the necessary arrangements are made, we will publicise the fact.

NATIONAL LANGUAGE WEEK OR MONTH (In Malay): Could the Minister not even give a slight indication as to whether it is possible to hold the National Language Week some time this year?

NATIONAL LANGUAGE WEEK OR MONTH Mr Speaker, Sir, when this Government makes a promise, it keeps its promise. Therefore, I would not like to give any specific date, but we shall certainly try to do something along these lines during the course of this year.

GOVERNMENT SCHOOL IN MALAY FARM AREA OF ALSAGOFF - ESTATE asked the Minister for Education whether he has any plan for building a Government school in the Malay Farm area of Alsagoff Estate.

GOVERNMENT SCHOOL IN MALAY FARM AREA OF ALSAGOFF - ESTATE The Malay Farm area is very congested and it had not been possible in the past to get unencumbered land suitable for school development here. The Government is, however, building a 24-classroom primary school at Jalan Kaki Bukit. This new school is expected to be completed in August this year, and it will serve the children in the Malay Farm area as well. We hope to purchase in the very near future another site for the erection of two Government schools which will not only cater for the children in the Malay Farm area but also for those in the Geylang Serai area. A site has recently been acquired in Jalan Kembangan for a 24-classroom primary school which is expected to be ready by early 1962. It should be explained that each 24-classroom primary school will be able to accommodate more than 2,000 students in both sessions.

BILLS INTRODUCED - OFFENCES RELATING TO VEHICLES (AMENDMENT) BILL "to continue in operation and to amend the Offences relating to Vehicles Ordinance, 1960", presented by the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Ong Pang Boon); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 26th April, 1961, and to be printed.

EDUCATION AND IMPROVEMENT RATES (ABOLITION) BILL "to abolish the Education and Improvement rates leviable by local authorities", presented by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (Mr Low Por Tuck) (on behalf of the Minister for Finance); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 26th April, 1961, and to be printed.

POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANK (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Post Office Savings Bank Ordinance (Chapter 106 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (Mr Low Por Tuck) (on behalf of the Minister for Finance); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 26th April, 1961, and to be printed.

POLICE FORCE (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Police Force Ordinance, 1958, (No. 32 of 1958) and to repeal Part XV of the Ports Ordinance (Chapter 208 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Home Affairs, (Mr Ong Pang Boon); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 26th April, 1961, and to be printed.

INQUIRY COMMISSIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Inquiry Commissions Ordinance (Chapter 52 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Labour and Law (Mr K. M. Byrne); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 26th April, 1961, and to be printed.

REARRANGEMENT OF ORDER OF BUSINESS Resolved, "That item No. 8 on the Order Paper be proceeded with immediately before item No. 3."-[Dr Toh Chin Chye.]

LAND TITLES (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 2.54 p.m.

LAND TITLES (AMENDMENT) BILL Mr Speaker, Sir, this Bill and the following Bill which I will be moving for Second Reading concern certain esoteric points in the law of conveyancing. As regards the Land Titles Ordinance, I would like to remind the House that it was first passed in 1956 and it was not brought into operation until 1st December, 1960. As from that date, under section 8 of the Ordinance, all land alienated by the Crown will be brought under the provisions of the Ordinance and certificates of title will be issued in lieu of Crown instruments. However, since 1956, there have been a number of surrenders by land developers under section 11 of the Crown Lands Ordinance for the purpose of sub-dividing their land into smaller lots for building purposes. Some 1,200 lots in the case of the Sembawang Hill Estate and another 1,000 odd lots in the case of the Serangoon Garden Estate have already been sub-divided. In both these cases, Crown grants have not yet been issued for each subdivided lot as time is taken for the survey of the land to be completed. However, in the meantime, buildings which have been erected on the lots have been sold and most of these properties are under mortgage. Under section 8 of the Land Titles Ordinance, there is no provision for the registration of mortgages or other encumbrances created before the issue of the Crown grants. The purpose of the present Bill is to provide the machinery whereby these mortgages or other encumbrances can be protected by notification on the land register kept in the Land Titles Registry. The new section 8A. (b) [clause 2] of the Bill puts the responsibility of informing the Registrar of the existence of any mortgage or other encumbrance on the person interested, and paragraph (c) enables the purchaser of the mortgaged property to be registered as proprietor without an order of the Court. This provision is similar to section 13 (6) of the Ordinance. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

LAND TITLES (AMENDMENT) BILL 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. - [The Prime Minister]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.

CROWN LANDS (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 2.58 p.m.

CROWN LANDS (AMENDMENT) BILL Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Section 8 of the Land Titles Ordinance States that after the commencement of the Ordinance any person who has become entitled to land upon alienation by the Crown for an estate in fee simple or for an estate in perpetuity or for a leasehold term of not less than 21 years, can require the Collector of Land Revenue to furnish to the Registrar of Titles a certificate to that effect. The Registrar shall thereupon bring the land under the provisions of the Ordinance as therein directed, and shall deliver the triplicate certificate of title to the person entitled thereto. This complicated provision really means that the Collector of Land Revenue is under a duty to give a certificate to the Registrar of Land Titles who then registers it. But in the case of a statutory land grant issued under section 4 (1) of the Crown Lands Ordinance, the Collector of Land Revenue will be faced with this difficulty. Under section 2 of the Ordinance, a statutory land grant is defined as a grant in perpetuity, but in Schedule A, the Form provides for an estate in fee simple by virtue of the words of limitation on "his heirs and assigns for ever". This means, Mr Speaker, Sir, that the Collector will either have to follow the words of the Form, in which case it will be contrary to section 2; or if he goes according to section 2, he will not be going in accordance with the Form and Schedule A. This anomaly has existed since the original Crown Lands Ordinance was passed in 1886. I do not wish now, Mr Speaker, Sir, to labour the House with the intricacies of the difference between a grant and a fee simple and "his heirs and assigns for ever". But I can assure the House that there is a conveyancing difference in the terminology used. For the peace of mind of conveyancers and the Registrar of Land Titles, it is now proposed to remove this anomaly so that the Collector of Land Revenue can certify with certainty that the person to whom Crown land is being alienated is entitled to a grant in perpetuity. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

CROWN LANDS (AMENDMENT) BILL Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committeed to a Committee of the whole Assembly. Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[The Prime Minister]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. 3.02 p.m.

FEDERATION OF MALAYA TROOPS IN THE CONGO Mr Speaker, Sir, I have His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara's recommendation to proceed with this motion*. *The motion reads as follows: That this House, in appreciation of their work to preserve peace, and prevent civil war and foreign intervention in the Congo, resolves that a sum of $10,000 be donated to the cheer of troops of the Federation of Malaya serving under United Nations command in the Congo. At the last Assembly sitting, when my colleagues the Minister for Culture was moving his motion for a sum of $10,000 for the Aid to Algeria Fund, the Member for Cairnhill remarked in the course of the debate that, whilst we were ready to make a gesture to the people of Algeria, we appeared unwilling to make any gesture to the troops of the Federation of Malaya serving in the Congo. I had on that occasion, Sir, stated that we would be happy to contribute to the Cheer Fund for the Federation troops in the Congo, and this motion of $10,000 is to ask the House for authority to make that contribution. Since we last met, the situation in the Congo has been contained by the determined stand of the uncommitted nations not to allow the Congo to become a cold war arena. Members will now know that since then the Indian Government has decided to send several thousand combat troops to serve under the United Nations Command in the Congo. This step has put a brake on the trend to withdraw troops under the United Nations Command from the Congo. Had the trend continued, a grave situation of civil war plus foreign intervention on all sides of the civil war could well have led to a dangerous world situation. Mr Speaker, Sir, this token of $10,000 is our appreciation for the efforts made by all in the cause of peace in Africa. Question proposed. 3.05 p.m.

FEDERATION OF MALAYA TROOPS IN THE CONGO Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to welcome the motion before the House, and the welcome is the greater because it is as a result of what the Opposition had suggested during the debate on the motion on Algeria at the sitting on 22nd February, and not at the last but one sitting. Sir, the Prime Minister has said that in the course of the debate on the motion on Algeria, I remarked that the Government appeared to be unwilling to contribute towards this Congo Cheer Fund. I did not say so. I just suggested that the Government perhaps could favourably consider donating a contribution towards the Congo Cheer Fund. The Prime Minister in his reply that day, Sir, while welcoming the suggestion, did try to suggest something which I did not suggest. He suggested that I suggested that money should be contributed to the Berita Harian Congo Cheer Fund. Surely, Sir, as the Prime Minister should know, when a government contributes any money towards anything, it is for that government to write to the government of the recipient country and send the donation through that channel, it does not have to employ any other channel. Sir, we are very happy that the Government, in this instance, has acted so promptly on a suggestion from the Opposition, and we thank the Government for that.

FEDERATION OF MALAYA TROOPS IN THE CONGO Mr Prime Minister, in reply?

FEDERATION OF MALAYA TROOPS IN THE CONGO I have nothing to add to the rather intricate explanation that the Member of the Opposition has given.

FEDERATION OF MALAYA TROOPS IN THE CONGO Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That this House, in appreciation of their work to preserve peace, and prevent civil war and foreign intervention in the Congo, resolves that a sum of $10,000 be donated to the cheer of troops of the Federation of Malaya serving under United Nations command in the Congo.

DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION BILL Order for Second Reading read. 3.08 p.m.

DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION BILL Mr Speaker, Sir, -

DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION BILL Will a Minister signify the recommendation of the Yang di-Pertuan Negara?

DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION BILL I so signify.

DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION BILL Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Diphtheria is a serious health problem in Singapore and some 600 cases of the disease occur annually with over 50 to 60 deaths. Both the occurence of the disease and deaths are preventable by immunisation, and this Bill is designed to improve preventive measures by making immunisation compulsory for infants and children. Since 1938 in the City area and after the Second World War in the rural area, it has been the policy to encourage parents to accept inoculation against diphtheria on a voluntary basis. Unfortunately, the response has not been as encouraging as expected. Only approximately 50 per cent of the new-born every year obtained immunisation by the voluntary method. For the effective eradication or reduction of diphtheria, it is necessary that 90 per cent of the children should be immunised. Thus, it is considered to be appropriate at his stage to require compulsory immunisation of all infants and children by primary and booster diphtheria inoculation as defined in clause 2 of the Bill. Compulsory immunisation by legislation is neither new nor unorthodox. Children are required to be immunised against diphtheria in such countries as Japan, Canada, Germany, France, the U.S.S.R. and Yugoslavia, and it has been the experience of these countries that such compulsory immunisation sharply decreases the incidence of the disease. In the main immunisation will be effected by requiring every child to be administered with primary diphtheria inoculation within 12 months of birth. Alternatively, every child resident in Singapore, who is under the age of seven years and who has not been immunised against diphtheria, will be required to do so under clause 5 of the Bill. Booster diphtheria inoculation, which means a further inoculation against diphtheria for a person who has received a previous inoculation, will be made compulsory for every child residing in Singapore on attaining the age of four years. Provision is also made for a child to obtain a second booster inoculation upon entry to Primary School. Clause 6 refers to booster inoculation. Clauses 3 and 4 of the Bill are to ensure that inoculation and intra-dermal test (to test the susceptibility of a person against diphtheria) shall be carried out by qualified persons. Also notification of such inoculation and tests must be made to the health authority in a prescribed manner. Clause 7 will enable the postponement of diphtheria inoculation if the child is unfit or has acquired immunity or has been shown not liable to diphtheria by means of the intra-dermal test. Clause 8 makes it clear that a guardian, which is defined as the person having custody of the child, must present the child for inoculation. Diphtheria immunisation will be given free of charge at all Government Maternal and Child Health Centres, but provision is made in clause 9 of the Bill for intra-dermal tests and inoculations to be administered by private medical practitioners at the expense of parents or guardians who choose to obtain inoculation through private doctors. To ensure success, some means is required to inform parents of new-born children that they must obtain immunisation under the Bill. Hence, clause 11 provides that the Registrar of Births and Deaths shall issue, after registering a birth, a notice to the guardian directing his attention to his responsibilities. I may say that the Registrar goes through the same procedure in respect of compulsory small-pox vaccination under section 48 of the Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance. Clause 12 provides for penalties for persons who refuse or fail without reasonable excuse to submit to the provisions of the Bill. There are also penalties for obtaining false certificates. You will note, Mr Speaker, Sir, that no prosecution in respect of any offence shall be instituted without the written sanction of the Director of Medical Services. According to modern medical practice, it is desirable to cease inoculation in the event of an outbreak of other infectious disease such as poliomyelitis. That is why clause 13 provides for the suspension of any or all the provisions of the Bill as a public health measure. Likewise clause 14 provides the Minister with power to declare any area as an area of outbreak of diphtheria, and thereupon to require compulsory inoculation of all children under 12 years of age residing therein. In such an emergency, immunisation shall be free of charge. Clause 15 provides for the making of regulations generally for carrying out the provisions of the Bill, and includes any fees or charges that it may be necessary to levy for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Bill. Among other things, the Minister is also enabled, under clause 15, to regulate the preparation or preparations to be used, the number of occasions they are to be administered, the mode of administration and so on. It is necessary for the Minister to prescribe a maximum fee to be charged by practitioners who administer any intra-dermal test or inoculation. This is to ensure that there shall be a standardisation of fee and that, in any emergency, no variation of fees shall be allowed. Of course, such prescription of fees would not be made unless a situation to warrant it should arise. In conclusion, I would say that this Bill represents an important step in the fight against diphtheria, towards eradication of this disease in Singapore by the compulsory immunisation of infants and children. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION BILL 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 Sheng Nam Chin]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.

WOMEN'S CHARTER BILL Order for Second Reading read. 3.20 p.m.