Minutes of the First Meeting of the Municipal Constitution Committee held on the 28th May, 1946, at the Municipal Conference Room,
Municipal Building, at 2.15 p.m.
Present:
Other Members:
Mr. J. Laycock, Chairman Messrs. W. Bartley
Absent: Mr. F.J. Kemlo.
H.P. Bryson
Lee Chim Tuan
Ton Chin Tuon
N.A. Mollal and
Che' Abdul Aziz bin Ishak.
The Chairman informed thee House that 'letter had been received from Mr. Kemlo explaining his absence on urgent business offairs.
The Chairman then introduced the subject of the day for discussion and it was agreed that
(0)
(b)
it would be suitable for the Committed to meet once a week on l'uosday at 2.15 p.m. the quorum for each meeting should be five members,
Associations and members of the public be invited to submit views and suggestions to the Committee on the future constitution of the Singapore Municipality; the invitation be advertised in the Straits Times, the Malaya Tribune, the Sin Chew Tit Poh; the Nenyang Siang Pau, the Utusan Melayu and the Tamil Murasu on three alternate days in the following form:
(a)
"His Excellency the Governor has appointed a Committee to make recommendations for the future Constitution of the Singapore Municipality and the scope of its administration.. The terms of reference have already been published in the public press and copies will be supplied on application to the Honorary Secretary, Municipal Constitution Committee, Mr. Lee Jiow Mong, c/o Trade Marks Registry, New Supreme Court.
The Committee will welcome any views and suggestions on these matters from any association or from any member of the public. All such suggestions should be sent to the Honorary Sacretory on or bofore the 21st June, 1946"
The meeting of the Committee would not be made public until a decision was made otherwise.
The Chairman further informed the House that he had written to the Colonial Secretary for certain documents and statistical returns for the consideration of the Committee. A number of specimen maps of Gingapore Island had been obtained from the Chief Surveyor and the House decided to purchase a dozen copies of each of the maps chosen. The Chief Surveyor was to be requested to mark on all the maps the Municipal boundaries in a distinctive colour. The Commissioner of Police Tas to be requested to help mark the Police Divisions on one 1" scale map.
On the suggestion of Mr. Ton Chin Tuon it was decided that an attempt be made to obtain the Air Roid Precautions records for the purpose of studying the distribution of population, and a list of representative bodies be prepared and circulated to members for any additions they would have to make. Also the Bombay and Colombo Municipalities be written to for any information they could supply regarding their constitutions, methods of election and allied subjects.
The next meeting was tentatively fixed for the 25th June, 1946.
The meeting terminated at 3.15 p.m.
Sigred J. Laycock
Chairman, 2nd July, 1946.
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