§ MR. J. F. X. O'BRIEN (Cork)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Governor of Malta, without the advice and consent of the representatives of the Maltese people, imposed a special tax on the use of tunny nets in Maltese waters; whether he is aware that last January, by a resolution in the council passed unanimously by the elected representatives, this order was declared to be rescinded, 151 but was four days subsequently promulgated afresh by the Governor; whether remonstrances against this action, which affects the poorest class of the Maltese community, have reached the Colonial Office; and whether any communications on the subject have passed between the Colonial Office and the Governor of Malta; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThe Governor of Malta has not altered the local laws relating to fisheries by the imposition of a special tax on the use of tunny nets in Maltose waters, but, in consequence of the increased attention which is being given to tunnyfishing in Malta, it has been decided to offer for public competition leases of sites for permanent tunny-traps in the territorial waters. On the 17th of January a resolution was passed unanimously by the elected representatives of the Maltese Council of Government, in which they objected to the grant of such leases by public competition, but the Governor disagreed with the resolution, because it appeared to be in the interest of private profit, and detrimental to public welfare. A memorial has been received from a Maltose respecting the grant of a licence for tunny-fishing, and has formed the subject of correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Governor of Malta; but I have received no general remonstrances of the kind suggested in the hon. Member's question. I am not prepared to take any steps in the matter.