§ 71. Sir G. STRICKLANDasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will acquaint the House with the reasons reported by the Governor of Malta as indicating a doubt whether an alteration of the Constitution is involved in a Bill entitled the Malta Trades Unions (Constitution) Act?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)The Maltese Ministers advised the Governor that as the constitutional Letters Patent did not define Trade Union Council in any way it did not involve an alteration of the Constitution to define it by an Act of the Legislature.
§ Sir G. STRICKLANDIs the Colonial Office prepared to accept any declaration of those Ministers which is obviously contrary to fact?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI cannot accept the hon. Gentleman's description that it is necessarily contrary to fact.
§ Sir G. STRICKLANDNot necessarily.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe question merely asked the reasons reported by the Governor as indicating a doubt whether an alteration of the constitution is involved, and I have answered that question.
§ Sir G. STRICKLANDArising out of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary reply, may I ask whether the Secretary of State can place a limit to the gullibility of Colonial governors?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREMay I say that I think that is very unconstitutional?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must not abuse his position here by statements of that nature in regard to another responsible Legislature.