§ 43. Sir GERALD STRICKLANDasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if 1147 he is aware that one of the two members of the Senate of Malta elected by the Trade Union Council, recognised by Lord Plumer, has been a Minister of the Crown by virtue of such election; that the election of neither was ever challenged before the competent Court of Law; that neither resigned but both passed automatically to the Assembly on election thereto after a dissolution, and that Ministers advised the present Governor to issue a writ for a second election under Lord Plumer's enactments; and will he state the reason for which the Constitution continues to be suspended with reference to the representation of trade unions in Parliament, notwithstanding Clause 36 of the Letters Patent and the opinion of the Imperial Law Officers?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREMy right hon. Friend is not prepared to dispute my hon. Friend's account of the events to which he alludes, but, in his view, they form part of the internal affairs of Malta, the control of which has been entrusted to the people of Malta. He does not understand that anything that could properly be called a suspension of the Constitution has taken place.
§ Sir G. STRICKLANDIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the despatch of the Secretary of State for the Colonies of 9th January, conveying the decision of the Imperial Law Officers on this matter, namely the illegal suspension of a provision of the Constitution for two years, was not communicated to this self-governing Parliament until 14th June, and does the Colonial Office approve of thus influencing the balance of power where the Estimates were carried by 300 casting votes.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member appears to be now entering upon matters concerning local government in Malta.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREOn a point of Order. Ought not this supplementary question to be put by the hon. Member in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition and of the rival party in the Parliament of Malta, rather than as a Member of this House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI tried to convey that in rather different words.
§ Sir G. STRICKLANDOn a point of personal explanation. I stand here as Member for Lancaster. There are certain matters reserved by the Malta Constitution to the Imperial Parliament, and it is the duty and the right of every Member of this House to ask redress on such matters and to submit questions affecting them. The action or inaction of the Colonial Office and of those who are appointed and paid under the control of the Colonial Office are matters for this House to discuss. My contention is that entirely incorrect answers have been suggested to the Secretary of State from sources responsible to him, and have been conveyed to this House. I, as a member of the Trade Union Council in Malta, and as a Member of this House, have a right on my personal knowledge to make statements upon—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am always glad to hear the hon. Member as Member for Lancaster, but there is another place where he can be heard in the other capacity to which he has referred.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESAs the hon. Member for Lancaster seems to be labouring under a sense of injustice in regard to this matter, will the Government not set up a Commission of Inquiry and send out the Home Secretary?