MALTA’S CONSTITUTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21569, 15 February 1932, Page 7

MALTA’S CONSTITUTION

ROYAL COMMISSION’S REPORT LORD STRICKLAND CRITICISED (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, February 12. The report of the Malta Royal Commission, comprising Lord Askwith, Sir Walter Egerton, and Count de Salis, contains some strong criticism of Lord Strickland, the head of the Ministry. The Times, which considers the most important explicit and implicit recommendations of the report are those which concern the restoration of the constitution and the settlement of the difference with the Vatican, remarks: “ It will be regrettable if the mass of Maltese were to suffer for the pugnacity of their politicians, and it would be deplorable if the family quarrels of the islanders were to prevent a settlement of the difficulties between the Imperial Government and the Roman Catholic Church.” NEWSPAPER’S CAUSTIC COMMENT. MALTA, February 12. (Received Feb. 13, at 5.5 p.m.) Discussing the politico-religious dispute, the newspaper The Church says: Our impression is that nearly every action whereto a sinister implication could be given was attributable with increasing force to Lord Strickland alone as the dominating power in the constitution party. It is useless to disguise the opinion that Lord Strickland is the culminating aggressive force with a manner calculated to cause irritation and annoyance, and with methods of attack involving personal animosity towards many of those attacked, leading to a tendency for the island to become divided into cliques.