MALTA CONSTITUTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20603, 30 June 1930, Page 10

MALTA CONSTITUTION.

/ [REASON FOR SUSPENSION. / / APPROVAL BY COMMONS. British Wireless. RUGBY* Juno 27. The action of the British. Government In suspending tho constitution of Malta ;was approved by all- branches of the Opposition in the House of Commons last evening, but hopes were expressed that the constitution might be restored at the earliest possible moment. The Under-Secretary for the Colonies, Dr. D. Shieb, expressed satisfaction at this general approval of the Government's action, which was taken with great reluctance, and in the hope that tho suspension would not bo of long duration. There would at any rate be an opportunity for all parties to reconsider the position, and so bring about an atmosphere that was likely to lead to harmony. The Government was anxious that the Maltese people should have an opportunity to work out their own destiny, and did not wish to intervene between local parties. But they had been compelled to take/action, owing to the intervention of an - outside party. ~ It was important to emphasise that the issue not really a religious one, but to gome extent a domestic controversy. V The Government had intervened in the best interests of self-government. Steps would be taken to see that ihe, people of Malta had full opportunities of understanding the facts of the situation.-.