MALTA EMERGENCY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 275, 3 November 1933, Page 5

MALTA EMERGENCY

MINISTERS DISMISSED. Out of Harmony With Britain GOVERNOR ASSUMES CONTROL (British Official Wireless.) (Received 3, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 2. “The Governor of Malta has found it necessary to dismiss his Ministers, and the Secretary of State for the Colonies, being satisfied that a grave emergency has arisen within the meaning of Section 41 of the Malta Constitution Letters Patent, the Governor has assumed the powers vested in him by the constitution,” says a statement issued by the Colonial Office. “For some time past,” the statement continues, “the Government has viewed with increasing concern the policy pursued by Ministers in Malta It will be recollected that restoration of responsible government in 1932 was made subject to certain definite provisions with regard to the language question, particularly to teaching languages in the schools. It is the essence of these provisions that the languages to be used in public elementary schools should be Maltese and English mly, adequate provision being made for teaching Italian in the secondary schools. “Since their accession to office the Maltese Ministers have embarked upon measures the object of which, in effect, is to deliberately evade this policy. “A further source of anxiety Is the manner in which the finances of the island have been administered.. These finances, which were taken over in a sound condition in 1932, already have been gravely prejudiced. “The Governor was authorised to warn Ministers that the policy which they were deliberately pursuing was contrary to the spirit of the constitution and gravely detrimental to ths interests of Malta, and to make plain to them the consequences which must inevitably follow unless the policy is radically altered. He subsequently presented a detailed list of measures adopted by them since their accession to office which he regarded as objectionable and which, both in the interests of sound administration and as a proof of their compliance with the policy of His Majesty’s Government, he called upon them to revoke.” Examples are cited as an illustration of the nature and extent of the acts to which the Government took exception, and the statement proceeds:— “There has, moreover, been in the ordinary day to day administration a number of instances indicating that Ministers neglected few opportunities, however small, of displaying their disinclination to work in harmony with the policy of the Government. The cumulative effect of these and similar acts is unmistakable.

“The Ministers were given an opportunity to amend their policy upon these matters. They declined to do so, and accordingly have been dismissed. The Governor has again assumed the administration of the island.”