§ MR. ANDERSONasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether Her Majesty's Government has any information as to an incident alleged to have occurred at a meeting of the Legislative Council of Malta, where one member of the Council, considering himself insulted by the speech of another, took proceedings in a police court, and subpœnaed the other elected and official members to attend and give evidence; and, whether that Legislative Council has not the same privileges of freedom of speech as regards those outside, and power to control its own members inside, as are possessed by this House; and if not, whether it rests with Her Majesty's Government, or with the Council itself, to confer them?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERA despatch has been received from the Governor of Malta referring to this subject. It appears that a person who felt himself aggrieved by the language used by a member of the Council, and who was not himself a member, took proceedings in a police Court, and summoned as witnesses other members of the Council. As to the law bearing on the subject, it would seem the Council of Malta does not possess privileges and powers similar to those enjoyed by this House, but I believe they have power to confer upon 1454 themselves reasonable privileges by means of enactment.