MINISTERS DISMISSED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21640, 4 November 1933, Page 11

MINISTERS DISMISSED

MALTA GOVERNMENT

STATE OF EMERGENCY GOVERNOR TAKES CONTROL Dy Telegrnph—Press Association— Copyright LONDON, Nov. 2 A message from Malta states that the Governor, General Sir David Campbell, has dismissed the Ministry, proclaimed a state of emergency and dissolved Parliament. t A British official wireless message says the Colonial Offico has issued the following statement: —" The Governor of Malta has found it necessary to dismiss the 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, tho Governor has assumed the powers vested in him by tho Constitution.

" For "some time past the British Government has viewed with increasing concern the policy pursued by the Ministers in Malta. It will bo recollected that the restoration of responsible government in 1932 was made subject to certain definite provisions with regard to tho language question, and particularly to tho teaching of languages in the schools.

" It is tho essence of these provisions that the languages to be used in tho public elementary schools should be Maltese and English only, adequate provision being made for tho teaching of tho Italian tongue in secondary schuols. Since their accession to office the Maltese Ministers have embarked upon measures tho object of which, in effect, would bo deliberately to evade this policy.

Finances in a Bad State " 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 19.'?2, already have been gravely prejudiced. " The Governor was authorised to warn the Ministers that the policy they were deliberately pursuing was contrary to the spirit of the Constitution, and gravely detrimental to the interests of Malta; also to make plain to them the consequences which must inevitably follow unless their policy was radically ajtered. " Subsequently the Government presented the Ministers with a detailed list of the 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 proof of their compliance with the policy of the British Government, ho called upon them to revoke." No Effort to Maintain Harmony Examples were cited as an illustration of the nature and extent of the acts to which the Government took exception, and the communique proceeded: " There have been, moreover, in the ordinary day to day administration, a number of instances indicating that the Ministers in Malta have neglected few opportunities, however small, of displaying their disinclination to work in harmony with the policy of the British Government. " Tho cumulative effect of these and similar acts is unmistakable.

" The Ministers have been given the opportunity to amend their policy upon these matters and they have declined to do so. Accordingly, they have been dismissed, and the Governor has again assumed administration of the island."