Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1932. LANGUAGE IN MALTA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 145, 31 March 1932, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1932. LANGUAGE IN MALTA.

Malta, that small but important British possession in the Mediterranean, has been prominently before the Empire recently by reason of interruptions of the smoothness of the relationship between the Ministry and the authorities in Italy. The administration of the island presents one of those peculiar features that are distinctly British in relation to dependencies. In order that the Maltese may have complete control of their own local affairs, while the Imperial authorities have jurisdiction over certain larger matters, two distinct governments, each with legislative and executive power within denned limits, are provided for in the constitution. The local or Maltese Government is responsible to a legislature consisting of a Senate (partly nominated) of seventeen members and a Legislative Assembly of thirty-two elected members. In the control of the Imperial policy the Governor is assisted by an executive council, consisting of such Ministers as he selects, and a nominated council consisting of naval, military and civil officers. The English language and the Italian language, as the established language of record in the courts of law, are the official languages of Malta, and both have been equally encouraged in the schools. Now, however, on the recommendation of a Royal Commission that investigated the whole question of the constitution, it has been decided that while Italian should be taught in the secondary schools, English and Maltese should be taught in the elementary schools. It is this decision that has incensed Signor Giunta (Italian Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs), who is reported to have uttered sentiments quite in the Mussolini style, the object of his wrath being Great. Britain. It is a peculiar thing that two years ago the Maltese Ministrv, of which Lord Strickland (at one time Governor of New South Wales) is the head, had a difference with the Vatican and now finds itself attacked by a spokesman for the Fascists. The Fascist leaders, however, endeavour to minimise the tension by insisting that Signor Giunta s remarks were made at a private meeting and have no political significance. The relations between the Itajjan Government and the Maltese Administration have always been friendly and there is no reason to believe that this subordinate Minister's militancy will infect the Italian population of the island. According to the Royal Commission already quoted, the common use of Italian is decreasing and if that is so, there is ground for the opinion expressed by Lord Strickland that the working people w»H be glad that their children (who are also instructed in Maltese) will no longer be subject to the ridiculous tyranny ot learning Italian as well as English :n the elementary schools.