§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action, if any, he proposes to take upon the protest of the medical men of Malta upon the appointment of Major Lawson by His Excellency the Governor to supervise the Malta Lunacy Board's medical officers in dealing with English patients only; and whether, with the view of adding to the good feeling of His Majesty's loyal Maltese subjects, he will consider the advisability of making Major Lawson a member of the Maltese Lunacy Board rather than a casual supervisor.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The hon. Member's suggestion has been carried out, and Major Lawson has already been appointed a regular member of the board of the Malta Lunatic Asylum. The duties of the board are to meet once a week at the lunatic asylum to discharge inmates when cured and to testify to the insanity of those admitted during the preceding week. It was never at any time intended that Major Lawson should in any sense supervise the medical officers of the board or to cast any reflection whatever on the manner in which the board has performed its duties