No_2_January_and_February__1950 — Page 69

SINGAPORE IMPROVEMENT TRUST

EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE TRUSTS ACTIVITIES IN 1948

The Singapore Improvement Trust came of age on July 1st, 1948 and this 21st anniversary year was marked by the most important building developments since the Trust came into being. Government for the first time granted the Trust a loan, viz. $5 Million, for the express purpose of Housing other than Housing carried out specifically under Improvement Schemes. The Government recognised the necessity for the Trust to manage its own Housing Estates and in consequence an Estates Office was brought into being.

Although Statutory Housing Powers are still awaited, and the Report of the Housing Committee of 1947 has yet to be adopted, the Trust has, with Government's approval, carried out the first year's building programme based оп the preliminary programme of that report, at an estimated cost of $7 Million.

The main limiting factor in the year's work has been the problem of staff.

Liaison with Municipal Commissioners.

In most of its work it is necessary for the Trust to maintain close liaison with Municipal Departments and on the smooth co-operation between the Trust and these departments depends much of the efficiency of the Trust. It is pleasing to report that such co-operation exists, and whilst at times there may be differences of opinion on methods to be adopted to solve a common problem, there are few which cannot be solved by mutual consultation and discussion.

Liaison with Government.

In the same way but perhaps to a lesser extent liaison is maintained with Government Departments. In particular the work of the Land Office and Rural Board has much in common with the Trust. In matters concerning the alienation of land, and particularly in connection with the renewal of Crown leases, the Trust acts in an advisory capacity, and close co- operation exists between the Manager and the Commissioner of Lands. It is most important for the development of the Island that such co-operation should be maintained and strengthened.

The Government Survey Office supervises generally the work of the Trust Survey Department which works in the Government Survey Office to Survey Office standards. Government is paid an annual fee for this supervision.

Expired 99 Year Crown Leases.

During the latter part of the year a most important step forward was taken in the development of the expired 99 year lease hold property on the lines recommended by the Weisberg Report. The Trust decided to place at the disposal of Govern- ment for re-housing purposes the 102 Tenements and 33 Shops erected on Trust Land at Smith Street and Sago Street and Government agreed to proceed with the demolition of the block bounded by Upper Pickering Street, Upper Hokien Street, South Bridge Road and New Bridge Road.

A census was carried out by the Land Office and revealed that accommodation was required for 619 family units and 87 business premises. The Trust then agreed to provide accommodation for all displaced persons by making available the Artisans' Quarters and Shops under construction at Balestier and the Shops at Kampong Silat. A scheme for transferring the shopkeepers to their new quarters was care- fully worked out by the Trust's Estates Department and alternative accommodation allocated in accordance with this scheme. The shops were allotted by a ballot which was attended by two representatives of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

There was at first strong opposition to the scheme by both shopkeepers and residents but when the advantages of the new accommodation were realised most of the opposition was withdrawn. Rehousing commenced with the occupation of the Smith Street, Sago Street tenements in December and at the time of writing more than two-thirds of the shop- keepers and residents have moved into their new accommoda- tion. The scheme is expected to be completed and the block of slums demolished by the middle of 1949.

The 1950 Building Programme will provide for the re-development of the cleared site and only shortage of staff prevented this being carried out in 1949.

This is the most important central slum clearance scheme which the Trust is to carry out; it is only the first instalment of a programme for dealing with all such slum properties belonging to Government. The success of such schemes can only be secured by close co-operation with Government Departments.

Rural Area.

Although most of the Trust's Funds have hitherto been spent in the Municipal Area, the Trust is deeply interested in the development of the Rural Area, and there is much scope here for further co-operation in the matter of Development Control. In the matter of main communications and in Housing Development it is possible that in the future the Trust will play a greater part in the Rural Area.

Princess Elizabeth Housing Scheme.

In the early part of 1948 working drawings were prepared for flats to be erected to celebrate the Wedding of Princess Elizabeth at the request of the Central Celebrations Committee.

At a meeting of this Committee in May 1948 the Manager was appointed Convenor of the working committee charged with the task of bringing this scheme to fruition. A number of meetings were held and agreement reached on the schemes prepared. A draft ordinance was submitted to Government

to enable the Trust to carry out the building and management of the proposed estates. Legal difficulties were encountered and for the latter few months of the year it was impossible to make any progress.

Since the end of the year however, new legislation has been drafted and it is hoped that the necessary enabling powers will be given to the Trust in the near future. But for the legal hitch the workmen's dwellings would now have been completed, and it is a matter of considerable regret that this delay has occurred.

Visitors.

During the year the Trust has had a number of visits from representatives of the Colonial Office and other interested persons from Britain and elsewhere. Most of these visitors have been conducted on tours of inspection of slum conditions and the Trust Housing Estates, and all have been impressed with the magnitude of the problem and the methods being adopted for its solution. Of these visitors the most important was the Minister of State for the Colonies, Rt. Hon. the Earl of Listowel who carried out an extensive tour. Another important visit was that of Messrs. A. Awberry and Dally, two British Labour Leaders who produced an interesting report. Mr. Chinn of the Social Welfare Department of the Colonial Office was most interested in the work being carried out in rehousing. Interesting discussions and tours of inspec- tion were carried out with Mr. Nutcombe Hume of the Colonial Development Corporation and Mr. McFadzean the local representative.

The Future.

It is possible that as a result of the Housing Report and other reports which have to be considered by Government a large measure of reorganization will have to be carried out within the Trust, but whatever the future may hold, it may be said that in the post-war period the Trust has not been idle. It has at least shown the way in the provision of better housing for the working and clerical classes, and by so doing demonstrated what can be done with economy in a field that is hardly touched by private enterprise.

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