§ 62. Captain ORMSBY-GOREasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any intimation from the Governor of Malta as to the reception accorded by the inhabitants of Malta and Gozo to the proposed constitutional changes; and when he hopes to be able to announce in greater detail the particulars of the proposed changes and the amount of financial assistance?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYThe Governor has informed me that the proposals were received with great demonstration of enthusiasm and loyalty. The details of the constitutional changes proposed, owing to their novel character, require much care and consideration, and I may not be in a position to make a complete statement for some time. Meanwhile, I may say that the general principle on which they will be based is that the legislative, administrative, and financial control of all the purely local functions of government in Malta will be entrusted to the local Legislature and to Ministers responsible to that Legislature, the control of the services reserved as appertaining to the position of Malta as an Imperial fortress and harbour remaining vested in the Governor.
As regards finance, it is proposed to ask Parliament next year for a Grant-in-Aid of £250,000, and that the Imperial contribution towards the cost of the drainage system and other similar public works in which the Navy and Army are concerned should be increased, as suggested by the Mowatt Committee in 1912.
§ Captain ORMSBY-GOREAre we to understand that the plan of the Government of India Bill, more or less, dividing the functions of the government of Malta into reserved and transferred 'subjects, has been followed in the new constitution?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYYes, Sir; the principle is the same to this extent, that in whatever matters the local Legislature is given power it is a correspondingly full, responsible power—administrative, legislative, and financial.
§ Captain REDMONDHave the inhabitants of Malta been in any way consulted in regard to this proposed alteration of their constitution, and have their views been given consideration?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYOh, yes; the inhabitants of Malta, through the informal conference or assembly known as the National Assembly of Malta, put forward proposals which were carefully considered. These are to a large extent the basis of the action we have taken.
§ Captain REDMONDWhy, in this regard, is Malta not treated the same as Ireland?
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman take this precedent for the rather analogous case of Gibraltar?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYCircumstances differ very considerably in the two cases. The population of Malta is 250,000; the population within the actual fortified precincts of the port is under 20,000. But my hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that in the case of Gibraltar that wherever we reasonably can we have no prejudices against considering the wishes of the resident population.
§ Captain REDMONDThat is very kind of you.