§ MR. DAWSONasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether it is a fact that out of eighteen members of the Council of Malta ten are official and eight members only elected by the people; whether, during the absence of an official member from illness or other cause, the Government can appoint a substitute; whether an absent elected member has any power to nominate a substitute in like circumstances; whether the elected members are constantly outvoted by the official members in questions of importance, including finance; whether the elected members desire a Civil Governor instead of a Military Governor, or, in case the latter is retained, that a portion of his salary should be paid out of Imperial funds for his Military services; and, whether the Government are forcing the substitution of the English for the Italian language as the official language?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYIn answer to the first Question my reply is, Yes, the Governor at present being one of 10 official members. My answer to the second Question is also Yes, in this sense—that if an official member is unable to perform his duties the Governor has power to appoint a substitute temporarily to carry on the official work, and by right of that he sits in the Coun- 1575 cil. My answer to the third Question is No. In reply to the fourth, I will recall to the hon. Member's memory the despatch which has been laid before the House from the Secretary of State to the Governor in March, 1883. It is the desire of the elected members to have a Civil Governor; and as to the question of his salary, it has been partly met by the Secretary of State giving his decision recently that £2,000 of the Governor's present salary should be paid out of Imperial funds. With respect to the last Question, there is no foundation for the statement.