§ 13. Sir BROGRAVE BEAUCHAMPasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he can give any information regarding the results of the reforms in language and procedure of the Maltese courts which were carried through last autumn?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERYes, Sir, the results of four months' working show that arrears in the courts are being rapidly overtaken. The cases pending on the 1st of October last in the courts of first instance showed a decrease on the 1st of February of from 1,043 to 681, i.e., 362; and in the commercial court a decrease of from 360 to 183, i.e., 177. In the same period the cases pending in the court of appeal increased from 164 to 189. This slight increase of 25 is accounted for by the increased number of cases heard to a conclusion in the courts of first instance, and by illness among the members of the court of appeal. These figures attest the marked success with which the reforms have been attended. The indications are that at the end of a year's working arrears in the courts of first instance are likely to be eliminated; and it may reasonably be hoped that the arrears in the court of appeal will also be overtaken. In any case, with the clearing of the lists in the courts of first instance it will be possible, should it be necessary, to give assistance to the court of appeal.