§ 15. Sir GERALD STRICKLANDasked the Secretary of State for War the reasons for which the Crown Agents have been instructed by the War Office to suspend the payment of £200 a year towards the remuneration of Mr. Mahaffy, legal adviser to the Civil Government of Malta; whether complaints have reached the War Office as to the impropriety of a legal adviser receiving remuneration from two sources having at times conflicting interests; whether he will give instructions that the suspension of the payment of £200 a year from War Office Votes to Mr. Mahaffy will be made absolute; and whether he has considered the representations in connection with the drafting by the legal adviser of a military training ordinance, made by the Parliamentary delegation that recently visited Malta, in favour of its disallowance?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Ronald McNeill)I have been asked to reply to this question. On the 7th February last, Mr. Mahaffy, legal adviser to the Governor of Malta, resigned his appointment as legal adviser in Malta to the three Service Departments, which, by arrangement with the Governor, he had held up to that date. His resignation was accepted, and the contribution of £200 per annum towards his salary which had been paid to local funds under that arrangement was accordingly discontinued from the 20th February, the date on which his resignation took effect. I know nothing of the complaints and representations referred to in the question.
§ Sir G. STRICKLANDIn view of the reply, I beg to give notice that on an early date I shall call attention to this matter on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House.