Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1526919
INDEPENDENCE Part 2 commemorating 60 years of independence CABINET discussed amendments to the law on import duties and a request by the British Ser- vices for the Vernon Club, the Red Shield Club (Salvation Army) and the Connaught Home (Methodist Foundation) to be recognised as service organisation with limited privileges in accordance with the agreement on mutual de- fence. The Cabinet agreed that the Red Shield Club and the Connaught Home "should not be classi- fied as authorised service organisations" but af- forded special arrangements to individual cases of UK-based personnel forming part of these two organisations. The Vernon Club was to be recognised as a service organisation. MINISTERS discussed a memorandum (memo no. 334) proposing several changes to the law regulating the Gozo local government in view of the upcoming election in December. Gozo had district committees and the Gozo Civic Coun- cil. The district committees were Victoria and the 13 villages. On each of these committees, voters elected six members. Each committee would then elect from among its members one councillor to sit on the Gozo Civic Council. The memo considered sever- al changes, including the possibility of having district committees ranging between three and six members because of the difficulty to find enough people to contest in the smaller villages. The memo argued against this proposal and suggested all committees have five councillors instead of six. The memo also argued against a proposal that the highest polling member on a district committee should automatically be the representative on the Civic Council. It al- so shot down a proposal to have Gozitan MPs be ex officio members of the Civic Council since this would defeat the purpose of devo- lution. Cabinet agreed that Gozitan MPs be consulted on the proposed amendments and the discussion be brought up again at the next Cabinet meeting. Cabinet also postponed a discussion on a pro- posal (memo no. 301) by the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare to give over the direction of Saint Philip Neri School to the Christian Broth- ers. The memo says the Archbishop "agreed wholeheartedly" with the proposal. The memo suggested that immediate vacancies at the school be filled by two Christian Brothers who were trained to teach at approved schools. The memo was seeking Cabinet approval so that the school transfer could take place. WORKS on the construction of the law courts in Valletta on the design proposed by Joseph Tonna started in 1965 and were completed in 1971. During this Cabinet meeting ministers also examined a proposal to increase the number of stenographers and clerks at the superior courts from two to six. Ministers called for a report on the matter to be submitted within 15 days. CABINET agreed that a Bill dealing with the issue of trading stamps be submitted to the House of Representatives for approval. Min- isters also approved the final design of the law courts that were to be built in Valletta. CABINET was informed that the Gozitan MPs had agreed to certain changes to the Gozo Local Government Or- dinance and a Bill containing the amendments was being prepared for submission to the House of Representatives. The minutes do not outline what changes were being pro- posed. Ministers also approved changes to the Commercial Partnership Ordinance, which were mostly administrative in nature. Cabinet also agreed that the two posts of schoolmaster for the Saint Philip Neri School should be abolished to ena- ble the minister of labour and social welfare to "enter into an agreement with the Chris- tian Brothers for the tuition service, and eventually, the direction under appropriate safeguards, of the school". CABINET agreed to advise the Governor-General to approve the rules laid down by the Rule-making Board by which peo- ple could file court applications. Ministers also agreed to send two Maltese observers to British Guiana to oversee elections that were to take place on 7 December. British Guiana was a British colony in South America and became the independent country of Guyana in 1966. And ministers also approved that the "new restaurant at the Harbour Hotel, St Paul's Bay" be declared 'an approved cater- ing establishment'. The Harbour Hotel would later become known as the Gillieru Harbour Hotel, which still exists today, having passed through several refurbishments over the years. THE memo, which had been prepared in October by the Prime Minister, outlined three possible scenarios with the proposed course of action being one in which "a blanket exchange of notes with the United Kingdom accepting all treaties" was adopted. The action also suggested a study of all treaties be completed by December, 1965. Cabinet eventually decided to extend the study period to June 1966. Cabinet meeting 15 October 1964 British clubs seek privileges Cabinet meeting 3 November 1964 Gozo Civic Council and De La Salle Brothers Cabinet meeting 27 October 1964 Ministers' nod to trading stamps Bill Cabinet meeting 5 November 1964 Gozo local government Bill prepared Cabinet meeting 9 November 1964 Approving Harbour Hotel restaurant Cabinet meeting 10 November 1964 Malta and international treaties Cabinet meeting 21 October 1964 The new law courts A post-war photo of Valletta's main gate with the Vernon Club in the background. In 1968, the club was formally handed over to the Maltese government and eventually the building became the seat of the Central Bank of Malta. (Photo: Central Bank of Malta website) The modern-day Gillieru Harbour Hotel had its restaurant approved by Cabinet in November 1964 The Banca Giuratale in Rabat, seen here in a photo from 1961, served as the seat of the Gozo Civic Council (Photo: National Archives Gozo) Cabinet approved the design of the Valletta law courts by architect Joseph Tonna in October 1964 with works starting a year later. (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday) "Law courts design (Mr S. Mangion, director of Public Works was in attendance) The Cabinet heard the views of the Director of Public Works on the design of the law courts prepared by Mr Joseph Tonna, A&CE, and the Public Works Department. It was agreed that the design of the façade needed some alterations. The director of Public Works was asked to propose a fresh design embodying the alternative proposed by Cabinet within a week. "Benefits under the National Insurance Act Cabinet discussed the benefits payable under the National Insurance Act. It was agreed that these benefits be extended to conform with international standards and that this matter be raised again for consideration in the 1965/66 Budget." "Succession of Malta to international treaties (memo no. 328) The Cabinet considered the question of Malta's succession to international agreements concluded on her behalf by the United Kingdom government before independence. It was agreed that: a) course (iii) in para. 4 of the memorandum be followed and the British government be informed accordingly, and b) to complete a study of all treaties by the end of June, 1966."