§ LORD STRICKLANDasked His Majesty's Government how many months have elapsed since the communication of the Government's policy on the language question in Malta without the teaching of Latin through English or Maltese?
What is the estimated compensation due for the repatriation of the Professor who teaches in Italian?
1256WAHas all teaching of Latin been suspended in the first year of secondary education?
What are the results of the agricultural policy as indicated by the proportion of overhead charges of the Department tabulated against the sales of new types of vegetable importations and live stock?
What is the approximate proportion of farmers and middle-men attending Government auctions of the above?
How many farmers a week approximately visit the experimental farms?
What has been the mortality with imported stock and the delay in providing first-class water?
§ THE EARL OF PLYMOUTH1. It is presumed that the Question refers to secondary schools. The policy as regards languages in these institutions was established in the Malta Constitution Letters Patent promulgated in 1921 and has not since been altered.
2. No sum has as yet been estimated with regard to any compensation that may be paid to the Professor of Latin.
3. The answer to the third part of this Question is in the affirmative.
4. During the initial stages of the new policy now being put into operation by the Agricultural Department, it is not proposed, nor would it have been possible, to make extensive sales of imported live stock to farmers. The policy adopted is that a certain number of imported live stock are being kept at the Experimental Farm whilst others, namely, boars and bulls, have been distributed on loan to farmers in Malta and Gozo. The stock at the farm Are being utilised for breeding purposes from which stock animals will be obtained during future years for further distribution to farmers. Much has already been done with the service animals now on loan in the two Islands and a marked improvement has resulted in the crosses so obtained. There are now about 1,000 cockerels and pullets available for sale or distribution at the Experimental Farm and the Agricultural Department will take steps this winter to dispose of them As advantageously as possible.
5. One sale of pure-bred pigs collected from reliable breeders has been held when sixty persons attended. It is understood 1257WA that this number would have been greater had the Gozitan farmers not been prevented from attending owing to a rough sea.
6. It is understood that during one month in the past summer 800 farmers were conducted round the farm.
7. Eight imported pigs died of swine fever. There has been no delay in providing first-class water as this was always available at the farm.