§ 33. Mr. Prittasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Governor of Singapore is attempting to compel the registration of political parties under the Societies Ordinance, 1909, and to treat as illegal all parties which do not apply for registration; whether he is aware that this Ordinance has never hitherto been applied to such parties; and what steps he will take to stop this procedure and to amend the Ordinance so as clearly to confine it to ordinary clubs and societies and to remove its objectionable features.
Mr. Creech JonesThe Governor of Singapore is not attempting to compel the registration of political parties. The Societies Ordinance, which was only brought into operation on 1st June, was amended on the same date for the express purpose of excluding political parties from its provisions.