§ MR. ANDERSONasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If it be the fact that the electors of two constituencies in Malta have so insulted the Legislative Council that nearly all the Members have resigned, and the Council has practically ceased to exist; whether he will, before the election of a new Council, modify the electorate, by abolishing the language test, or in some way extending the franchise; and, what steps the Colonial Office are taking under the circumstances?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYThe facts in the first part of the Question are, roughly speaking, correct. Some months ago the Government of Malta was desired to propose to the Council an extension of the franchise; but now that the Council has virtually dissolved itself, it is an open question whether it would be best, as suggested, to have the election of a new Council under an extended franchise, enacted by Letters Patent.