Mr. POINTERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that on the 18th May last the elected members of the Malta Legislative Council, since resigned, sent a petition, praying for extended powers of self-government, to the Governor of Malta, asking him to forward it to the Home Government, and that, although on receipt of it the Governor promised to communicate with them on the matter as soon as possible, he did not give any answer or communicate with them again on the matter until 6th July, after a lapse of forty-eight days, when he refused to recommend any alteration in the constitution; whether he received the petition in the ordinary way, and, if so when; and what were the terms of the reply to the Governor?
Mr. HARCOURTThe facts are generally as stated in the first sentence of my hon. Friend's question, but the Governor stated on the 18th of May that the communication of the elected members would require very careful thought and consideration; and I do not regard the delay in forwarding the petition as unreasonable in the circumstances. The petition reached 681 me through the Governor of Malta on the 11th instant, and I have not yet sent a reply.