§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the hardship to next-of-kin of men killed on active service who are unable to obtain grants of administration, he will arrange to open the Companies and Deeds Registers and the Estate. Duty Office in Singapore immediately.
Mr. Creech JonesI am informed by the Governor of Singapore that the Companies (Special Provisions) Ordinance to assimilate the law to the present conditions in Malaya comes into force on 19th July and that the Companies Office is now open. The Deeds Registry is also open for registering transactions which can be exempted from the provisions of the Moratorium Proclamation. The appointment of an Acting Commissioner of Estate Duties will be gazetted -at an early date.