LAW-MAKER'S TWO SEATS

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18419, 27 June 1925, Page 8

LAW-MAKER'S TWO SEATS

BRITAIN AND MALTA

' LONDON, June 13. Replying to the criticism by the political correspondent- of the "Daily 'Mail'-' rogardmg his dual activities as Conservative member for Lancaster in tho House of Commons and Leader or. the. Labour Opposition m the Malta Parliament. Sir Gerald Strickland, formcrlv Governor of New South "Wales, says' tliab he declines to resign Irum either Parliament. "I have the full concent of my Lancaster and Malta constituents to devote tnv time to tho interests of the Empire as" I think best." Sir Gerald said, "it is -cross impertinence, on the part ot the" Premier of Malta, Mr P. Buhagian. to think that he (ffli luterlciewith' my freedom of speech m tno House of Commons."' Referring to the Malta motion of censure in connexion with his rcc'iit spnech in the House of Commons, regarding Malta, Sir Gerald added: l 'J am not. .surprised. Mr Amery wish''that I should reshiet my palitical i'.ritvities to Malta, because- no has bee:i dragged inf} an uuteiia-blc position. '•■'.The-Commons will judge between mo and Mi- Ameiy when my motion to reduce- his salary is debated. 1 ' The political eorresnr.i-dent of the "Dailv Mail" recently called attention to the" compilations Kkely to arise from Sir Gerald Strickland's dual activitie as ft Conservative member of the Honso of Commons and Leader of tho Opposition in Malta. The. Parliament of Malta censured him for criticising the Government's failure- 1o fill two trade union vacancies in the Upper Chamber. Sir Gerald declares that the Maltose Labour movement is pro-R tish; nevertheless, it is being deliberately smothered. It is understod that tho Colonial Office considers thai Sir Gerald Strickland should confine his political activities either to Britain or to Malta. Sir Gerald ha* the Maltese title of Count D*Jla Catena, being the sixth of his line to bsar the title-, and he is also a niember of the Maltese Legislative Assembly. Ho waa Governor of Tasmania from 1904 till l£Ot', of West Australia from 1009 till 1913 and of NewSouth Wales, 1013-17.