CO537-1651 — Page 190

Minutes of the Sixth Meeting of the Municipal Constitution Committee held on the 30th July, 1946, at the Municipal Conference Room, Municipal Building, at 4.30 p.m.

Present:

Other members:

Mr. J. Zaycock, Chairman

Messrs. W. Bartley

Absent: Mr. F.J. Kemlo.

H.P. Bryson

Lee Chim Tuan

Tan Chin Tuán

N.A. Mallal and

Che' Abdul Aziz bin Ishak.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 23rd July, 1946, which had been circulated were amendo, confirmed and sinod by the Chairman.

A letter of apology was received from Mr. Kemlo.

The draft suggestions for Report on the basis of decisions arrived at up to the 23rd July, 1946, which had been circulated were considered. A few improvements were made.

Arising out of the minutes and the draft suggestions, the following items were settled:-

(1) Property qualifications of an elector, and

(2) Names of the four wards in the Town Area.

The first item was left over from the the last meeting.

Mr. Bartley, who did not agree to Mr. Tan Chin Tuan's proposal to fix the qualifying figure at sixty dollars for the annual value of inmovable property belonging to the elector, said that he was prepared to lower his original figure of one hundred and eighty dollars to one hundred and twenty dollars. Mr. Tan's idea was to bring in more electors from the number of small holders of immovable property who, in his opinion, should be encouraged to take an interest in the election. The Chairman who was in agreement with Mr. Tan pointed out that owners of temporary huts built on land not belonging to them would not be qualified because temporary huts are not immovable proper ty. This would exclude all the owners of temporary huts who, in Mr. Bartley's opinion, should not be qualified electors. Finally the figure of sixty dollars was agreed upon by a majority.

Mr. Bryson pointed out that if the intention was to bring in more electors by lowering the property qualification of an elector who owned immovable property, it would be logical to lower correspondingly the property qualifications of the occupier or partner in occupation decided upon at the last meeting. ccordingly Mr. Tan Chin Tuan moved that the qualifying figure for an elector in the case of an occunier be lowered from one hundred and eighty dollars per annum to one hundred and twenty dollars per annum. Mr. Lee Chim Tuen seconded this motion. Mr. Tan Chin Tuan also moved that the qualifying figure for an elector in the case of a partner in occupation be lowered from a rental of fifteen dollars per month to a rental of ten dollars per month. Che' Abdul Aziz seconded this motion. Both motions were carried nem con.

Mr. Mallal suggested that the four wards in the Town area be given specific names. The meeting agreed on the following :-

(1)

(2)

Rochore Ward

rea east of Queen Street Arab Street line, north of the stamford Canal, i.e. up the mouth of Stamford Canal to Queen Street, along Queen Street to Arab Street, turn loft to the Rochore River, down Rochore River to the sea.

Jalan Besar Ward

Area west of the queen Street Arab Street line, north of the Stamford Canal, i.e. from Queen Street Stamford Canal junction up Stamford Canal and a long Clemenceau Avenue, Cavenagh Road and follow the Serangoon Bele stier Ward boundard line.

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