| GEORGE VI, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India. |
| By His Excellency Sir THOMAS SHENTON WHITELEGGE THOMAS, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Straits Settlements in Council. |
| Whereas it is provided by the Inquiry Commissions Ordinance, 1941, that it shall be lawful for the Governor whenever he shall deem it advisable to issue a Commission appointing one or more Commissioners to inquire inter alia into any matter in which an enquiry would, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, be for the public welfare: |
| And whereas the Governor in Council has deemed it expedient and in the interests of public welfare that a diligent and full enquiry should forthwith be made into the following matters, namely: |
| The system of inviting tenders, of entering into contracts for works and supplies, and of supervising and paying for such works and supplies as practised by Government Departments in Singapore concerned with contracts, the Singapore Municipality, the Singapore Rural Board, the Singapore Improvement Trust and the Works Departments of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force. |
| Now, therefore, I, Sir Thomas Shenton Whitelegge Thomas hereby appoint the following persons, namely: |
| The Honourable Mr. Justice Newnham Arthur Worley, |
| Mr. Thomas Christie Hood, |
| Mr. John Jeff, M.C.S., and |
| The Honourable Mr. Edwin Norman Collet Woollerton, |
| to be Commissioners and hereby authorise the Commissioners to inquire into the matters aforesaid as hereinafter directed: |
| 1. | I direct that Newnham Arthur Worley shall be Chairman of this Commission of Inquiry: Provided that in the absence of the said Newnham Arthur Worley from any sitting of the Commission an Acting Chairman shall be elected by the Commissioners present at such sitting. | | 2. | I direct that the first sitting of the Commission shall take place in the Council Chamber of the Legislative Council on such date and at such hour as the Chairman may designate and that at any sitting of the Commission three members shall form a quorum. | | 3. | I direct that the Commission shall normally hold its sittings in the Council Chamber of the Legislative Council but shall have power in its discretion to adjourn to any other suitable place to hear evidence or for any other purpose connected with its duties. | | 4. | I direct that the Inquiry shall be held in public: Provided that the Chairman or Acting Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry may in his discretion direct that any evidence may be heard in camera or otherwise recorded without being made available to the public. | | 5. | I appoint Philip Oscar Wickens, Malayan Civil Service, to be Secretary to the Commission and to attend the sittings thereof and generally to exercise the powers conferred and to carry out the duties imposed upon such Secretary as are referred to in Section 6 of the Inquiry Commissions Ordinance 1941 and I authorise the Secretary to employ such clerical or other assistance for the purposes of the Inquiry as the Commissioners may require. In case of necessity I also authorise the Chairman of the Commission to appoint any suitable person temporarily to act as Secretary to the Commission. | | 6. | I direct the Inspector-General of Police to detail police constables to attend upon the Commission for the purpose of preserving order during the proceedings, to serve summons on witnesses or to perform such ministerial duties as the Commissioners shall direct. | | 7. | Finally I direct that the Commissioners after completing their enquiry render to me their report thereon and make such recommendations as they may think necessary. |
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