SELF-GOVERNMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 200, 10 June 1929, Page 8

SELF-GOVERNMENT.

MALTA’S CONSTITUTION. \ CROWN COLONY SUGGESTION. LONDON, May 28. The Prime Minister of Malta (Lord Strickland) tabled in Parliament a statement by the Minister of Education and Migration, Professor A. Bartolo, protesting against “the British authorities’ attempted encroachments on Malta’s self-government,” says the Malta correspondent of “The Times.” Professor Bartolo says that under Malta’s constitution certain Imperial subjects were*, reserved for the nominated council, but local affairs were wholly entrusted to the Maltese Legislature. There has been no friction since 1927 until the Expropriation Bill, which is now before Parliament. The nominated Council claims powers which the Ministers refuse to recognise, and the Government contends that the nominated Council’s powers should remain- in abeyance so long as the Government is willing to meet the British Government’s requirements, and should only be exercised if the local Government fails to act or passes laws detrimental to Imperial interests. The Minister adds that if the views of the British Government’s legal advisers are upheld it would' be far better to withdraw self-government and place Malta on the basis of a Crown colony.