A collection of volumes known as Hansard, which contain the House of Commons debates when Malta formed part of the British Empire, have been rescued after ‘a mistaken decision’ had consigned them to a warehouse in Hal Far where they were deteriorating rapidly, Historical Society of Malta president Mario Buhagiar told the society’s members at the AGM yesterday.

The volumes have now been restored and are being kept at the National Archives in Rabat.

Prof. Buhagiar, while announcing this success also announced a failure – the repeated failure of the society to find suitable headquarters where it could hold meetings and preserve its archives and publications. No help has been forthcoming, said Prof. Buhagiar, except from Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, which offered the Notre Dame Gate.