asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If Government has considered the policy of acceding to the desire of the Maltese for the appointment of a civilian governor on the retirement of the military governor next year, and for such reform in the constitution of the Council that it may have more of a representative character than it now has?

No official communication, Sir, upon this subject has been recently made to the Government, but the questiou has been brought forward from time to time. The conclusion at which we have arrived is that, having regard to the position of Malta as an important fortress, it would not be advisable to take any step in the direction indicated by the hon. Gentleman.