§ MR. BRYCEI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will lay upon the Table of the House, before the Colonial Vote is reached, the Project of Law regarding marriages in Malta, which has been drafted in the Colonial Office for the purpose of being presented to the Legislative Council of Malta, so as to carry out the engagements recently contracted by Her Majesty's Government with His Holiness the Pope; and whether it is the fact, as has been reported, that this draft Project of Law bas given rise to grave objections on the part of the representatives of the Church of England and other Protestant Churches now existing in Malta?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHThe draft of an Ordinance regarding marriages in Malta has been prepared by the Government of Malta and submitted for the approval of the Secretary of State, who has called for further information before considering its provisions. It is not proposed to lay the draft upon the Table. It would 1730 be most unusual, if not without precedent, to present drafts of colonial measures which are under discussion. Objections have been made, as stated in the question, but to provisions which the objectors have anticipated the Ordinance will contain. Full consideration will be given to any objections.
§ *MR. BRYCEWas there not an engagement to afford an opportunity of discussing this question on the Colonial Vote?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI cannot charge my memory with having made such an engagement. It is not possible for the Government to initiate an arrangement of this kind in the manner suggested by the hon. Member.
§ *MR. BRYCEIs there not a draft Ordinance in existence, and has it not been shown to a good many people in London?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHThere is a draft Ordinance, but it is under consideration, and, therefore, cannot be laid before the House.