§ MR. ANDERSONasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether, in the Constitution granted to Malta, there is a provision by which elected members of the Legislative Council can at pleasure resign their seats; and, if so, whether the seats now vacant through resignation have to be immediately filled, or whether it is not possible to have the electorate divided into constituencies before any new election takes place?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYThere is in the Letters Patent of 1849, Clause 8, which provides for the resignation by Members of their seats. These Letters Patent are to be read in connection with the now Letters Patent of last year. The seats now vacant must be filled very shortly, and it will not be possible to have the electorate divided as proposed before the new elections. The present division of the constituency is regulated by a local ordinance.