CO537-1651 — Page 181

e the

Minulag of the Second Meeting Municip 1 Sonalikabisa, Cocomitte le15 on the 2nd July, 1946, the Municipal conference Room,

Municipal Building, at 2.15 p.m.

Present:

Other members:

Mr. J. Laycock, Chairman Messrs. W. Bartley

H.P. Bryson

Lee Chim Tun

Ten Chin Tuan

N.A. Mallal

F.J. Kemlo and

Che' Abdul Aziz bin Ishok.

The minutes of the first meeting held on the 28th May, 1946, were read by the Secretary, confirmed, and signed by the Chairman.

Dealing with the population estimates, the Chairman expressed his belief that the proportion of the local-born had increased since the last census and would continue to increase for some length of time immigration in the meantime being negligible. The population figures were discussed at length and it was agreed that on the basis of all the data av ilable affecting the population, the local-born population formed at least 55% of the population of the Island 20% of the Island's population being in the rural areas and that the total adult population of the Island may be assumed to be about 450,000.

On the method of appointment of Commissioners Mr. Bartley expressed himself in favour of direct election with some form of reserved seats. The Chairman, who had earlier expressed himself in favour of the gen ral principle of direct election by wards, subject to a number of reserved seats for minorities, proposed a motion that the Committee considered that the method of appointment of Commissioners should be by direct election by words, one-third of the seats to be reserved and dealt with as the Committee hereinafter recommended. Mr. Bartley seconded this.

An amendment was moved by Mr. Mallal that the appointment to the majority of the seats should be by direct election with a number of seats to be reserved to be decided later. Mr. Tan Chin Tuan seconded this.

The Chairman then proceeded to explain the various ways which he thought possible of dealing with the reserved sents. He considered that only two ways appeared possible:

(1) Nomination by the Governor,

(2) Election by wards, candidates being restricted to members of

the section of the Community for which the seat is reserved.

In regard to the election to a reserved seat Mr. Bartley considered that districts like Geylang, Kandang Kerbau, and Tanglin would be suitable for the purpose.

The Chairman further stated that he considered that the reservation of seats should, however, not be absolute, but should be decided by the Governor a few months before the election, The reservation should be provisional until shortly before the time for election arrived, and if there was already adequate representation for that section of the Community, reservation might he unnecessary.

Mr. Kemlo raised the question of minorities and the historical representation of the business community on the Municipal Commission. The Chairman thought that the business community would always be represented in some way or other and that the minorities would be protected if they were sufficiently large and important. All minorities could not always be protected just because they were minorities.

Mr. Bartley, who had expressed himself in favour of the method of two-thirds direct election and one-third reserved seats to be nominated by the Governor, stated that this method would help to even up the form of representation if necessary. It afforded the means of protecting the minorities. He accordingly moved, seconded by Che' Abdul Aziz bin Ishak, that approximately two-thirds of the number of seats be directly elected by wards, and one-third nominated by the Governor with a recommendation to the Governor to use his powers to even up the form of representation.