PROCEEDINCiS OF THE HOUSf Of ASSEM6L Y Of NEWFOUNDLAND. SESRION _ 1_911 . • \VEDNESDA Y, 11'eb. 8th, 1911. OP:B:NING . OF THE SESSION. The General i\ssemb1)T having by several Proclan1ations of His ExcellenC)T the (~o\rernor, been pro­ rogued u11til this day; the inembers thereof met in the r\ssembly Roo1n. ... t\.t three o'clock in the a fter110011 a message from I-Iis Excelle11C)T tl1e (iovernor vvas delivered by the Cientlema n Usher of the Black Rod commanding· tl1e in1mediate attend­ a11ce of Mr. Speaker and the I-louse it1 the Council Cl1amber. _l\ccord­ i11gl)T 1fr.

Speaker and House at­ te11ded His Excellency the Gover- 11or in tl1e ·c.Junci1 Chamber, a11d, 11a \ring retur11ed to · tl1e Asse111bly Rootn, l\1r. Speaker i11fort_ned the House that vvl1en i11 attenda11ce 011 His Exce1lency tl1e Governor i 11 t11e Council Chamber His Exceller1cyr had pleasecl to tnake cl g·racious Speech to both brancl1es of tl1e Leg­ islature, of 'v hicl1, for g·reater ac­ curacy he ha.d o1)tair1ed a copy, arid \V 11ich lie read to the I-I ouse. • SPEECII F'R()l\f 'flIE 'fHRC)Nl~. Mr.

President and H nourable fientlem~n of the Legislative Council: Mr. ~p~aker and Gentlemen of the Hon"" ourable House of Assembly: It is with pleasure that I 1neet :loU again, as the representatives of the people o.f N e\:vfot1ndland, a11d I al1.1 gla.d to be able to co11g·ratulate y~ou upo11 the continued prosp~rit:l of your cot1ntr)~. Si1ice the last sessio11 of tl1is Leg·­ islat11re tl1e Britisl1 E111pire l1as su~­ tai11ed a profou11J loss, thr0ugl1 tl1e death of ot1r well-beloved So\rereig-11, I~i11g Edvvard the Se\rer1th, ever to be remembered as the }'eace1nqkp.r.

DesDite l1is brief reiv11, his 1~1te ~ 1Ia-..l._ ...._ ) , jesty vTvo11 the u"t1sti11ted acl1niratio11 of the civilized vvorlcl, by' his eff0rts to . nro1note i11ter11atior1al concord. .. Bv l1is 1~ee11 i1rterest it1 the adva11ce- me11t of tl1e oversea IJosse3sio11s of '• the Cro\;v11, t11e pro:11otion of co11- stitutio11a1 liberty, ai1d tl1e e:<::te11- sio11 of free it1stitutio11s ai11011gst thern, l1e did 111uch to ce:ne11t tl1e ties tl1at 1)i11d tog·etl1er the sea-divi­ ded 1JO~sessio11s co11stituti11g tl1e

4 HOUSE OF ... .\SSEl\iBLY PROCEEDINGS. Empire. No. ruler in a11y period of the world's history achieved such a place in the council of natio11s, or was recognized as such a power for peace and harmony ; and all will pray that the sentiments \vhich in­ spired him \vill make their influence increasingly felt in the years to come.

I feel assured that you will avail yourselves of the earliest opportu­ nity of expressing your sympathy with the Royal Family in their be­ reavement, and )rour loyalty to his successor, His Majest) r King George the Fifth, \vhose accession you, in common with other portions of the Empire, have hailed so heartily, and under whose 'vise rule \Ve trust rhat co11t_inued happiness at1d pros­ perity may be the portion of the British Em pi re. · His late Majesty havi11g alwa)TS actively associated himself with every movement for the alleviation of human suffering, my Govern- 1nent propose the erection, it1 con- 11ection with the General Hospital in this city, of a Home for Nurses, to bear his name, and to serve as a lasting monument to the memocy -of one as distinguished in the realms of humanitarianism as in those of statesmanship.

The arbitratio11 before The Ha­ gue Tribunal of the dispute betvveen Great Britai11 and the Unit e d States, with respect to certain liber­ ties of fishing claimed by the in - habitants of the United States it1 certain waters of Newfoundland and Canada, to \,r}1ich I n1ade re­ ference in 1ny Speech of last year, resulted it1 an a \Vard whicl1, it is hoped, \Vill dispose of an i11ter11a­ tio11al co111plicatio11 that 11as, from - tin1e to time, for well 11ig-l1 a ce11- tury, eu1bittered the relations of the cou11tries co11cer11ed. .i\Jl ad\rocates of the i)eaceful solutio11 of such questio11s must rejoice that arbitra­ tion, as a mea11s of disposi11g inter- 11ational disputes, l1as received so effective a stimulus fro111 the adop­ tion of t11is 1netl1od by tl1e British and i\merican nations-:-ever it1 the \rar1 of move1nents te11dir1g towards concord tl1roughout the vvorld.

The provisio11s of the a \vard itself did 11ot ensure finality as to one or tvvo of the issues involved. Tl1e several Go\rernments affected, ho\v­ ever, felt that a 111ore speed) T at1d efficacious adjustme11t of t11e 111at­ ters at issue could be secured by a friendly confere11ce tha11 b)r resort to the procedure prescribed for their determi11ation by the a '\Tvard of the Tribunal.

I an1 glad to _i11form )rot1 tl1at, as a result of such a c o11- fere11ce, held at \Vashi11gto11 last mo11th, at \vhich tl1is Colon) r vvas represented by my Prime 11inister, an agreement \Vas reached b)r \vhicl1 the process of dealing \Vith a11y questions that may not yield to diploma tic negotiations, \vill be 1naterially _simplified, a11d delay and expense to the Colony a\roided. .l\. copy of this agreeme11t, as · \vell as of the proceedings before The Hague Tribunal, and of the Award, vvi-11 be laid before you. •

• HOUSE OF ASSBMBL Y PROCEEDINGS. 5 The material well-being of the / Island has been more than main- tained during the past year, not­ withstanding a shortage in the catch of fish along the Labrador, and other parts of the Colony, due to causes temporary in their cha­ racter. The realization of the pro­ duct, because of an enha11ced value arising from the short supply, as­ sisted very largely in counteracting the effects of the smaller quantit)r available for export.

The seal, herring, lobster, \Vhale and other fisheries were prosecuted \Vith en­ couraging results, and everything points to this year's fishing opera­ tions being pursued on an even more extensive scale. The export of minerals has been well maintained, and the attention which outside capital has been giving to our mineral resources justifies the belief that extensive development in this respect n1a)r be anticipated in the near future.

I am gratified to be in a position to announce that the loan autho­ rized by you at the last ~ession of the Legislature, for the construe- · tion of certain Branch Railways, was rai.sed in England by my Gov­ ernment on terms more advantag·e­ ous that ati)r previous financial . operation effected by this Colo11:y'". ... ~n additional advantage of this transaction is that the amount re­ ceived has been deposited in banl:s in this city on terms vv hicl1 yield a rate of interest equal to · that paid for the loan itself.

Satisfactory progress has bee11 made with the first of the Branch Railways. 1"he rails have been laid to within twenty-two miles of-. . Bona vista, the completion of vv 11ich. branch will be resumed 11ext springr­ w h i 1 e the co11struction of the ­ branches to Trepassey and Ilea rt' s Content will be u11dertake11 at the same time, and it is 11oped that even greater progress than last year may be made this season.

Seei11g that the Colony's securi- · ties on the l_.,ondo11 market, while bearing the same rates of interestv are quoted at varying figures, and that the effect of this is to depres& . the standing of our securities gen­ erally, it is proposed to introduce a measure for the conversion of those earlier loans into Inscribed Stock, so as to maintai11 a parity betwee11 them and the securities issued more recently, in wl1ich latter, by Ia\v, trustees ai1d others ca11 ii1vest fu11ds under their control, this not beir1g permitted with our previous loa11s.

My Government are of opi11io11 that the time has 110\V arri \red 'v 11e11 the first steps should lJe ta ke:1 to­ wards providing pe11sio11s for the aged poor. A 1neasure deali11g­ \Vith tl1is subject t1pon a basis \7v?itl1- in the fi11ancial 1neans of tl1e Co­ lo11)r \Vill be submitted for )rour co11- sidera tio11 . Co11currently \Vith providing ~s­ sistance for the aged po,or, !:1y Gover11111e11t feel tl1at they sl1ou1d extend educatio11al adva11tages, so far as possible, to e\rery cl1ild ii1 the ) ' J , , • I J 1 I I I lq I I

jl I • I I it I I • l 1 I i ' • J 1 I • f I . • . \ I t1 I ~ . • ) 1 1 I I J 6 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS. Island. Ir1 accordance vvith ir1- structions issued by"1 the Govern­ ment, the Superintende11ts of Edu­ cation have prepared statements vvhich show the number of settle­ ments in the Island where there - are now, without schools, sufficient children of ai1 educational age to justify the opening of such schools. You will be asked . to provide an a ppropria ti on ·which shall effect this result.

Since last session the policy of extending the telegraphs to re1note portions of the Island, hitherto un­ provided vvith this facility, has been assiduously pursued, and during the present year it is hoped to cotnpletely encircle St. Barbe peninsula, and provide extensions for other districts as well, besides constructing wireless stations at points on the norther11 coast for the benefit of the sealing fleet, this agency being like\i\rise extended along the Labrador Coast, so that the fishermen may all the more partake of its advantages. During the past year provision has been made for steamers to ply between St.

John's and Fogo Dis­ trict ; on Fortune Bay ; and along Northern Labrador ; and this year the Government hope to arrange for an additional improved service on the West Coast, betvveen Port aux Basques and Bonne Bay, in place of the two boats now plying there.

Realizing how greatly the mar­ keting of our fish in a fresh or frozen state, as \Vell as the utilizing of the b)r-products tl1ereof, would enhance for our fishermen th·e value ' of their an11ual catch, 1ny Government have entered into an agreement \Vith i\1nericar1 capitalists, who de­ sire to a \rail themsel \res of the f acili­ ties afforded b)r the Cold Storage Act of last session, for the establish­ ment in this Colony of a cold stor­ age enterprise 011 an exte11sive scale.

Agreements have also been co11- cluded \v.ith Englisl1 capitalists for the establishment of factories for the manufacture of peat-fuel and of explosives, and negotiatio11s are at present in progress with a view to the introduction of other indus­ tries which will assist in the de­ velopment of our latent resources, and the provision of new avenues of employme11t for our people. You will be asked to enact legislation to ratify these several contracts. The past year has vvitnessed a substantial increase in our exports, due to the output of the pulp and paper mills at Gra.nd Falls.

The approaching completion of similar tnills at Bisl1op . Falls will further enlarge this total ; whilst various persons are at present negotiating for the establishment of other like enterprises. The pulp and paper industry promises to largely aug­ ment the volume and value of the Colony's exports in future, and to form a source of permane11t em­ ployment for many of its people. The manifest desirability of re­ taining at home as much as possi-

HOlTSE OF .'\SSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS. 7 ble of the large sums an11t1ally ex­ pe11ded abroad in the . purchase of farm products, , 111uch of which could be raised aino11g·st us, ·has impressed tl1e Gove;rn1nent with the imperative 11ecessity of stimulating t11e develop1nent of agriculture as much as possible ; and careful far­ reacl1i11g measures were set on foot, in accorda11ce with the . provisions of the Act passed for that purpose at the last · sessio11, to carry tl1is policy ·into effect~ The co-opera­ t ion of distinguished · Canadian a o-ricultural a utl1orities was i11 vi .. b .. . ted, and cheerfully given.

Agri-. . . culture societies, to the nun1ber of seventy, vvere orga1?-ized in all the districts ; stock and seeds of an im­ proved quality vvere distributed ; and experienced peat-cutters were eng-aged, wl10 spent several n1onths . . . th 1 . 1 . ("r< 1n 1nstruct1ng e peop e 111 et11:te:-e11t parts of t11e country how to cut up and use this material for fuel. During the autumn an Agricu1tti­ ral Exhibition was held in this city, at which display .s were made by every electoral district.

The variety and excellence of the exhibits, as a w·hole, more than justified the highly encouraging estimates of our agri­ cultural capabilities made by tl1e Canadian authorities already men­ tioned, besides confirming the . con­ clusions of the various eminent men of every station who, during their periods of residence here in . the \ past, championed the cause of ao-ri-~ culture, and advocated its more ex- tensive pursuits.

The ~Ianufac-, turers' Association co-operated with the (~over11me11t by holding an ex­ hibitjon of local manufactures at the same time, ai1d demonstrated con­ clusively the .great possibilities in this direction which lie before the Colon:y-. The success of the com­ bined exhibitions will, it is hoped, result in similar displays being niade freque11tly, so that the rate of progress in both departments of in­ dustrial endeavour niay be more ac­ curatel:y-.-measured, and an incentive created vvhich will result in con­ tinued in1prove1ne11t.

It is -pleasing to observe that the Colony's foreign trade for the last fiscal year \Vas . the largest in its history, and that, froµi the . revenue returns thus far of the current fiscal year, there is reason to believe a still better shovving \vill be made for the period ivhich termina .tes on the 00· .. ] ~) t~1 ur1 e n e::::.:: t . A conference to devise 1netl1ods for the . better preservation of our forests from destruction by fire was held in St. John's .early last ,year.

The result vvas the organizi11g of a temporary protective force, . or fire patrol, tovvards the mainte11ance of which the Gover11ment and the several interests concerned contri­ buted. 1-..his proved so satisfactory that it ,is proposed 11ow to give it permanent status by legislative en­ actment. During the past year or tvvo very gratifying evidence has been af­ ~orcle1 of the awakening of the out~ side v'lorld to a better knowledge of this Colony's standing ai1d possi-

bilities, a fact attested by the steadi­ ly increasing readiness of capita­ lists to invest in the development of , our chief industries and in the esta .. blishment of new ones1 The tna11if0Jd adva11tages to this Colony from the mai11tenance of the tri-weekly cross~country train ser ... vice the past twelve years have been shovv11 i11 tl1e inauguration of large ~nterprises along the line; and, ''rith tl1e building and operating of the branch rail\Vays, the time has come for a daily service. Negotiations are in progress between the Gover11- tnent and the Reid N ewfottndland Compa11}1 ,,rith this end in view. Mr.

Speaker and Oentlemen of Hi! Honourable House of Assembly; I am glad to be able to inform 31ou that the reve11ue for the past fiscal year wag the largest in th.e l1istory of the Colony, and the ex· cess over ,expenditure larger tha11 -any surplus ever previously realized. lt is equally gratifying to be able to state that the revenue for the first half of the current fiscal year was considerably larger than for the corresponding period in any fiscal year heretofore, and that it was in excess of expenditure for the same period.

This virtua11)1 e11sures a ~ubstantial increase of revenue over the estimate for the current fiscal year, which ·ends on June 30th next, and that a surplus over expendi­ ture for the same period may be hoped for. The economic co11ditio11 of the Colony affords ca use for satisf ac.-7 tion.

The commercial and trad outlook is et1couraging, and every­ thing points to a continuance of the conditions that, of late, have yielded such substa11tia.1 returns to . all en­ gaged in our various occupationsl The Estin1ates for the coming fis~ cal year will be laid before you i11 due course, and I feel sure you \Vill readily make due provision for the carrying on of the public service. The Esti1nates have been prepared with due regard to e_conomy: " and the additio11al votes which will be f ou11d therein represent services wl1ich the increasing progress of the Colony renders absolutely neces~ sary. Mr.

Pretldent and Honourable Oentlemen of the Legislative Council: Mr. Speaker and Oentlemea of the Honourab 'e Houae of A1sembly: During the past few months two more trans-Atlantic submarine te1e"' graph companies have landed their cables on tqis Island, a fact which attests its importance from a- com­ mercial standpoint, besides con.: tributing to the progress of the com .. munities among which these com­ panies have established their sta ... tions.

A~, during the present year, a census of the British Empire w111 be taken, you will be invited to appro-:­ priate . a sum for the purpose of making an enumeration of the population of this Colony. Owing to the lamented death of His late Majesty; the Festival of Empire, arrang©d for last su~mer,

1-IOLJSE OF ASShMBI--1Y PROCEEDINGS. 9 was postpo11ecl for a year. Tl1e plan and scope of this exl1ibitio;1 have been considerably changed i11 the meantime, and tl1e Colony l1as undertaken to participate iii it upo11 its 11ew basis. ...L\lthoug-11 tl1is \vill call for an additio11al appropriatio11, \Ve mav reasonably co11clude that _, tl1e result, by 11e1ping to s1)read 1nore widely a l{_no\vledge of tl1e "I Colony's resources ana 1Jrog-ress, will be co1n1nensurate vvith the out- lay.

The Imperial Co11ference, n1ade up of delegates from His l'viajesty's Govern1nent, and from tl1ose of t11e oversea do111inio11s, for the con­ sideration of matters of 111on1ent to the Empire as a \vhole, \vl1icl1 co11- ve11es ir1 Londo11 at intervals of four }rears, will re-asse111ble tl1ere in Ivl a}" 11ext, and the participation of this Colony therein \vill be arrang-ed for . • Tl1e Coronation of Their 1\1 ajes­ ties, King- George and Quee11 11Iar;1, · \Vill take place in Lo11do11 on ] u11e 22nd, and I an1 sure tl1at iii due course preparations vvill be 1nade for adequate local observances of tl1is auspicious eve11t.

I leave you now to yTour delibera­ tions, and pray that Divine Pro\ri­ dence may guide you therei11. HON. THE PRENIIER (Sir Ed. :\1orris)-1\1r.

Speaker, with the pern1issio11 of the House I desire to propose t11e adoptio11 of the follovv­ i11g Address to His l\11ajest}r I{ing George V. - The address is two­ fold in its scope and character · ~ it expresses the deep sorrow and l1eart- B felt Sy"'t11patl1~l of the Colo11y \i\7 it11 I-Iis l\1ajesty a11d the Royal i=ra1r1i1y it1 tl1e calan1ity \vhich l1as falle11 upo11 tl-1e Er11pire, and i11deed tl1e \vl101e YvTor1d, in the death of His~ l\1ajesty J{i11g Ed \i\Tard VII.; at1d 011 tl1e other hand te11ders our co11- gra tulations to l1i1n \i\Tho 11ow oc­ cupies tl1e Throne-testifying our­ loyalty, fealty at1d devotion-not alone to the Tl1rone, but to His J\1ajesty personally arid his Royal Co11sort.

I feel that this House does not desire to proceed to t11e· regular business of the sessio11, tl1at it \vould 11ot be 1neeting the \Visl1es of· tl1ose who se11t us l1ere-tl1e people~ vvl10111 -vve represe11t-u11til officia.1ly""' ar1d for1nally givi11g expression t~ tl1eir berea 'le111er1 t iii tl1e loss of the- 1 ate King, a11d to tl1eir 1oyalty to t11e I{ing- \\rl10 novv reigns over us­ to \V 11ose service to-day -vve were S\VOrn.

I-I is Exceller1cy, i11 the Speech \vl1ich lie 11as just delivered, in re­ ferri11g- to tl1is lamentable event, as ~ you -vvill have noticed, referred to tl1e reig11 of l{.ing Edward as being ' brief. That is perfectly true, if we 1r1easure the reign as \Ve usuallv ~ _, 111easure eve11ts, by tl1e duration of ti111e. But when vve estimate it bv ~ the work perfor111ed, tl1e itnporta11t character of its eve11ts, the activities crowded i11to it, I thinl{ you will agree witl1 111e tl1at there never vvas a reign it1 English l1istory more ample and copious in its sustained work.

His late Majesty had scarcely come of age -vvl1en he met the great loss of his life ir1 the death of his

··10 illt1striot1s fatl1er, tl-1e Pr.i11ce Co11- sort, a t1d I tl1i11k I a _111 11ot over­ stc:tting· tl1e f~-tcts \v11e11 Isa~,- t11at . fro111 tl1at I1our u11til l1is accessio11 to the 1~hro11e 1n 1901, 11e shared_ \-'iitl1 l11s T\.o~;8_l :;\f(other the 1)urde11s ai1cl resfJC)nsi1)i1ities i11 perfor111i11g­ tl1e duties aJ1cl tasks of En1pire, so that ,,. l1e11 11e asce11clecl the 1"11rone as J:i11,g· of I~11gland l1e broug,-l1t to the perfor1nance of his duties a ripe expe1·ience ~111d fJteparation for his task Sll cl1 as \v as 11e\rer before ell~ .ic)~\Tecl 1)yy <:111~y of l1is predecessors.

It \\Tas 11ot ea~'\T to sttce'eed to sucl1 ~1 rei,g11, or to fill t11F place of 011e vvl1c_) 11ad_ occt1pied so iarge a space - -1n tl1e JJUblic 1ni11d as Queen \lic- tor-ia. Hers \Vas tl1e 1011gest and 1nost ill ustrio11s reig11 in the 1011,~~ line of Englisl1 111onarcl1s, the most g·loriot1s i11 tl1e at111als of B:nglish his­ tor\T, 111arked bv \Vo11derft1l acl'tie\Te-. . . 1ner1t ai1d adv-~111ce1ne11t i11 ev-erJ' depart111e11 t c)f our ci ,~ilized life.

I11deecl tl1e last decades of l~er reig-11 -the 1 a st 1)art of the nineteer1 th centurvr-:-\-Vere 111arked b\r such acl " . - vance a11cl de·ve1opme11t in co1n- 1nerc1al at1d industrial life 1 in ,the promotio11 and growth of sciences and the arts. as never l1a ve been and _probably never will be exceeded. .rl"'here \~as no departn1e ·n_t of the ·life of the 11ation tl1at she was riot co11spicuous1y a part, ai1d she 1nigl1t truly l1ave said vvith the Latin poet, .. QuorliJJZ pa1"s ntag1izt11z _fi;,it.

Sl1e was riot only a great Quee11 at1d a great Christian, bt1t a great won1a11 -glorious in the n1ethods of lier life. B;l her exarnple to tJ1e -vvorl<l as a 111otl1er aJ1d a 1vife sl1e raisecl t11e l1ome to a loftier a11cl hig·l1e r pla,ne tl1a11 ever attai11ed before . and s11e is rerr1e111 bered to--·cla ·~,r 11ot alone 111 l1er reg·al robes \\Titlt the scept1-e f)f poYver, but as tl1·2 be~ rea\Ted \\·ido'·'' of \\Ti11dsor, \'\rhose life sorrov\i -broug·l1t l1er 1)er111a11ent1~· closer to 11er people. ~ o other sovereign e\Ter filled so sure a place in the liet:lrts of the people.

There ne\rer was a periocl i11 11er long' teig·n of sixt)r-five years 111 wl1ic 11 there \Vas an:.1 chang~e i11 tl1is sertti- 1ne11t., and 110 1natter \\"" l1at occurred,· or vv l1at troul)les, political or other~ \vise~ existed, t11e)r 11ever affectecl tl1e relatior1s vvl1icl1 exist~d betwee11 t11e Ql1ee11 and the people. .i\.11d \Vhen sl1e laid clov'/11 tl1e sceptre. v\tl1er1 i11 1901 sl1e passecl avva:_yT after a glorious reig~n, t11e v~/l1ole wor!d agreed tl1at 11er life 11ad borne t11e ~ . . fruit of its ear]iest pron1ise, and that tl1e vvords of her friend ancl laureate \Vritte11 of 11er f1 ft-y' 'rear~ before, vvere IJtophetic : She wtoug}1t 11er people lastir1.~ good, Her Court \\r"" as pure, her life serene : God gave lier peace, lier land re­ posed A thousand claim~ tr) reverenc·e closed In lier. a~ 1notl1er, \·vife ancl ()11ee11. ,.._, ... c\nd statesme11 at her Co11ncil sat \;\Tho ki1eV\:- the seaso11 \\~}1en to take Occasion byr ti1e hand, and n1ake The bonds of freedon1 '.vider still By sha pi11g so111e a ug·ust decree \Vhicl1 kept l1er throne unshaken still, Broad based upon t11e people's will, .J\.nd compassed l)y t11e inviolate sea.

H <) lJ SE 0 F .. i\.S SE 1\tI BI~ Y PR 0 CE ED ING S . I I ,_1--,his "';-as t11e i11herita11ce tow hi ch King Edv\""arcf su.cceedecl. He as­ ~t1med t11e d11ties of a positio11 of \v-l1ich tl1e loftiest ideals had bee11 created. 11 uch \\·as expected of 11i111 : but lie n1ore tl1a11 fulfilled tl1e ·i1opes and expectatio11s of 11is JJeo­ lJle. He \Vas esse11tiall:.' a 1nonarcl1 ()f the people.

I-lis rtxcellc11C)T re-­ fers to the fact tl1at it i~ as the Peacemaker that he \\"ill })e kno-vv11 it1 l1istor) T· It is i11 tl1at g-reat role tl1at lie \vo11 the respect 211d love 1 11ot 0111.)r of l1is st1bjects i11 l~r1g-land and i11 the do111i11ior1s bevT011cl tl1e -..;eas, but also of tl1e \\Torlcl. IIi~ e\~ery actio11 \Vas for tl1e cause of 1Jeace. X ot alo11e clid he fulfill his i.luties as a l(i11g, but l1e allovled 11is activities to pe11etra te i11to ever)T llon1ai11 of life.

I>oliticia11s \rer\-, <Jften create strife ~ t11e Press, 11ot perhaps inter1tio11all:» 1)ring the i1a­ tions to tl1e poi11t of tl1e bayonet, arid if it vvas 11ot for ~0111e one be­ l1i11cl t11e sce11es to alla}T ai1gry feel~ i11gs and restore l)etter u11 derstar1d­ i11g, peace -vvould be tl1e except ion. '1\his was the ,,,rork 11e ei1 a-a o-ed i11 b b from tl1e tin1e he asce11cled the tl1ro11e to the da v i11 v\T 11icl1 l1e la'/ - - aside 11is task. :\ot onl'\T \~.rere l1is .. . efforts used to this ei1d, but l1e l-1a:-; l1anded dovvn his E111pire ii111::>rovecl,. ~trengtl1e11ed ai1cl buttressed, at1cl g:ive11 a. ne\\T lease of life to 111011- 8 rcl1ical institutions.

T11ose \\Tho l1ave had the opportu11ity of stt1dyT­ i11g tl1e attracti\re feature of Repub-e lican ii1stitutio11s 011 this side of tl1e \\rater, cts -vvell as Europe~ have see11 tl1at 1nucl1 1na\T yTet be said 111 fa\--- - our of tl1e (Jlder i11stitt1tio11s. l )e111c .. cracies, l<.epublicans, Socia list~~, all \\-ere able to 1)e 111011arcl1ists t111der tl1e late I{.i11g. ...~11d )iet l1e dislil~ed tl1e revolutio11aries, tl1e icc)11oclast, t11e n1a11 a.1 \x.ra _y .. s desiri11g- to tl proot , l)elievi11g v\'ith 1"e1111~Y'so11 1 tl1at. ''H . 1 h e 1s t11e . est co11servativ~ \\,.110 ]orJs thP 111ol11c1er111s5 l)ra 11ch· a v'\:av. ' ' - 1--I e li keel .. t11e \\rl1ee1 s

C) f li.f e to run sinoothl\T at1d all 11is efforts \\rere t() C)il tl1e1n SC)_ t11at t1-1e~· J11j,g-11t ne\rcr . Jar. It -vvoulc.1 1)e iclle to sa>T 11e dicl i1ot take ar1 i11terest or pla:-" a g-reat

part i11 t11e public life of 11is J)eople. rl"rue u11der our co11stitutio11 tl1e I{ir1g- ca1111c)t tal~e all clcti \re

part iii tl1e politics of the cc)untr:,T: hut a1- tl1ough l1e 111a_)T 11ot ha\"e openl:,T in­ terfered, 110-v,,. v\ras it JJOssible for a n1an of l1is cl1aracter at1d a11ilitvT to· associctte vvitl1 the great sta.tesn1e11- \\ho 1113_ke the politics . at1cl pt1blic· life of l~11gla,11d, \Tvitl1011t to ~1 \rer\ · -' g-reat extent guiding <:1r1c-l 111ot1iding their \rie\\ TS?

Duri11g the latter clays of l1is reig11 l~ngla11cl v\ras disturbed ai1d affecte d '.A,-ith i1nporta11t don1es.,. tic questions, great constitutior1a1 isst1es : 1Jut there is 110 e\Tidence to sl1ov\r tl1at l1e lea11ed to 011e side 1nore tl1an a11otl1er. I can onl)r say, :-;peaking as at1 outsider~ that I be­ lieve if tl1e King 11ad a11yT lea11ings V\"hatever the)" v\Tere to''Tarcl politi­ cal reforn1. It v\7aS 111)' great pri\riJege tv\!\J )1ears ago to be 11is g-uest i11 11is 11is­ toric 1101ne, Bt1cl1ingha ln 1~a lace. •

• 12 HOUSE OF ASSElYiB-L V PROCE:E~DINC-S. • T11ere, surrounded by the great offi­ cers of state and representatives of great ·Ki11gs and pote11tates, he -found ti1ne to recog-nize every one and had a word for all. He 11onor~ ed me in talking- over -vvitl1 him some matters connected \Vitl1 the Colony, and he g-ave me to under­ sta11d that he took a lively interest in N e-vvfoundland ai1d fully follo\V­ ed its progress.

He allowed 1ne to say what I thought of the French Shore Questio11, and I told hin1 ho\V 11e vvas beloved in N evvfoundland, and 110\v \Ve appreciated his efforts in the 1natter of peace witl1 his great neig-hbor, France, which had l1elped so inaterially in bringi11g about t 11 e French Treaty. He seemed to be pleased and delighted to ki1ow that such a feeli11g existed. It was only a sl1ort year later I saw l1i1n l)ring dead. I was out­ Bide Bncki11gl1am Palace when the last bulletin \Vas put out, and I shall never for get the feeling- of the great throng waiting there, when they learnt he was no· more.

It vvas not the ordi11ary sorro\V or re­ g-ret that comes to one \Vhe11 a great 1nan has passed, it vvas a feeling- of deep, personal loss-a sense that ~he man had died because his bur­ den ·was too g-reat, that he l1ad bee11 ·trying to do too much for tl1e na­ tion. A few days after it \Vas my privilege to officiall}r represent the Colony at his burial in the histori­ cal chapel of St. George's, \Vind­ sor, and seen 11is retnains laid in his last resting place.

Ai1d as I listened to the beautift1l litu1·gy of tl1e Cl1urcl1 of Engla11cl burial ser­ vice, ai1d heard the choir c~ant 11is favorite l1yn111 : .......... '' l\!1y God, 1ny Father, ·vvl1ile I stray~ Far from ~y l101ne, on life's roug-h \Vay, 011 ! Teacl1 111e fto111 1ny heart to sav - ) 'Thv \vi11 be do11e.' '' ~ At1d when tl1e i\rchbisl1op of Ca11terbury intoned :..-...- ''Now the labourer's task is o'er; Now the battle-day is past ; Now upon t11e fartl1er shore, I~a 11ds the voyager at last. Father! 111 'fl1y g·racious keeping Leave vve t10\V Thy servant sleeping-.

I felt t11at the words could not l1a ve bee11 111ore appropriately ap ... plied if they l1ad bee11 speciall _ _y" · \Vtitten for hi1n. Ki11g Edward -vvorked for his people, a11d he 1naintained arid up_, held the lofty ideals set for hi111 b}t his mother at1d father, ai1d when he passed away the -vvords of the Laureate, -vvritten of his father, vvere equally applicable to him : ''We have lost l1irn. \Ve know him now. He is go11e. .i\.11 narro-vv jealousies are silent and we see hi111 as he moved. How modest, ki11dly 1 a1l-accon1plisl1ed, wise !

With what sublime repressio11 of himself, artd i11 -vvhat limits at1d how te11derly ! Not s-vva ying to this faction or to that. Not nlaking his high place the lawless percl1 of \Ving-ed atnbi-­ tions, not a vantage for pleasure. But tl1rough all these tracts of )'ears \Vearing tl1e -vvhite flower of a blameless life be·fore a thousand

l!OliSE OF~ .\SSE'.lV!BLY PROCEEDINGS. peering little11esses i11 tl1at fierce li o-ht whicl1 beats a bout a 1"hrone b and blacl{ens every blot.'' It would be fuJso111e to say tl1at our late king had 110 vveaknesses. I~ike all mortals 11e had his sl1ort­ comi11gs, but they only reminded us of his hu1na11 side. ~e vvould have been the last to claim impec­ cability. It has beco111e fashiona­ ble for a sectio11 of the vvorld to encourage the bringing out in bold relief the short .. con1ings of tl1ose prominent in public life.

They seem to be a target for the vilest 8]ander and fair game for those \vl10 vvrite for the prurie11t a11d 1norbid reader. And so it vvill be to the end. Dullness and medioc­ rity n1ay go u11molested and unat­ tacked, but people never tire of finding fla \VS in those w 11on1 they are neither able to emulate nor excel.

George Elliott, probably the deepest thinker and vvriter in the last century, produced in that classic of hers-'' Romola,'' speak­ ing of Sa \ranarola, the great 1nartyr of the fifteen ce11 tury, who died on tl1e scaffold in defence of civil and religious liberty, after pointi11g his \\reaknesses and his sl1ort-comings, ~umtned up his character in these -vvords : ' ' It vvas the custom of old, vvhen an ox was led out for sacrifice to Jupiter, to chalk the dark spots , and tl1us give the victim a show of u11 blemished whiteness.

Let us throw awa)r the chalk a11d boldly say tl1e victim \Vas spotted, but it \Vas not, therefore, it1 vain tl1at his tnighty l1eart was laid 011 the altar of me11 's 11ig·hest l1opes.'' • If there \\tere any weak11esses or short-co111ir1gs ir1 tl1e late king·, tl1e:.v" do not vva11t a11y chalk. They re­ present his hu1na11 side, the sicle that 111ade 11in1 011e of ourselves , that drew hi111 to us, that created the great bo11d of sytnpathy and love -vvhich existed bet\veen hi111 and 11is people.

It is to tl1is i11herita11ce that l1is prese11t Majesty, Ki11g· George, l1as succeeded, and I thi11k all -vvill­ agree that it1 hi111 \Ve 11a ve a suc­ cessor \V ho vvill s11stain tl1e 11ig·l1est a11d best traditions of his r1an1e, and that vve 1nay fairly look for l1is reign to be one that will add lustre to the thro11e of Eng] at1d. Fo110\\~­ i11g· the example of the late ki11g, his father, and l1is illustrious gra11d­ mother, we believe that he will strengthen tl1e bo11ds of loyalty t11a t bind the people of the Empire to the Throne.

His Nlajesty has al­ read)r shown a very deep and keen interest in the welfare of the Domi­ nions beyond the seas. It is only a very short while ago t11at this country had the 11onour of extend­ ing· to l1im proof of its 11ospitalit .Y and loyalty, and the records of that visit sl1ow that he takes a very a p­ precia ti ve interest in the Colony. I feel that the Address which I now beg· to propose to the House . will pass unanimously, and will, iri its assurances of loyalty and devo­ tion, i11 a small measure assist the /

,, k i 11g- i11 a sst1111i 1~g- tl1e 1Jt1rde11s and res1:}onsibilities of the great E1111)ire C)f \\rl1icl1 l1e is tl(J\V tl1e I-Iead a11d Ru1et. SIR ROBI~Rtf' BC)l\l -)--l)er111it 111 e to s a )T , ~Ir .

S i)e ~ k er. 11 o \\T s i 11 - cerel)r vve \V 110 sit 011 the OIJIJositio11 ~ide of tl1e I-iot1se u11ite \\rith the l1011oura ble 111c-:.111 ber~; of the Gov­ er11111e11 t side of tl1e IIot1se i r1 tl1eir tribute of 10Tvi11,~- 110:11ag-e tc) tl1e 111e111or\r of our 1 ate So\Ter~i sr11 i-t'orcl, - . ) I(i11g Edy\ra1-d \TII., \Vl10'. si11ce \\iTe last assen11Jled here~ 11as 1Jassed f ro111 tl1i111e to eter11it:y .. 1 lea\~i11g- a l)la111-:, i1ot onl~T i11 tl1e Ernpire l)tlt i11 tl1e \V-<)rld, tl1at pro1)abl:,T 11e\Ter ca11 1Je filled.

So111eo11e 11as saicl : '' tl"'l1e greatest 111a11 of l~trrope l1as i)assecl at1d left 110 successor .~ ~ I tl1i11k, sir, tl1at 11igl1 as i~ tl1is esti111ate, it scarce1;l clicl j t1s~ice to Ol1r 1 ate Sovereig11. 1'11e 111c)~~t 1~i11g-ly· of l~ir1gs, tl1e 1nost 111a11ly,.

C)f 111e11, the 111ost perfect of g-entle111e11, l1e \\Tas u11dou1)teclly,. tl1e ce11tral :figure a11d tl1e 111ost a ttracti \Te t)erso11 aii t\,r in .. - t11e y\rhole ~.ride \\Torlcl. \\1e Bri- tisl1ers 111ot1r11 11i111 as the fat her of l1is people, as the v\Tise Co11stitu­ tio11al I~uler \\rhose perso11al 111ag- 11etis111 drey\r closel},. to 11i111 111ore tha11 four hu11drecl 111illions of tl1e 11t11na11 race, \V 110 rejoiced to ac­ clai111 11i111 as tl1eir 1;.:i11g-. '!"'he ci vili zecl \\rorld 111ot1r11s him as t11e ; ·' Pea ce1na 1-:..er, '' the great '' Co11- ci lia tor,'' at1d t11e future historia11 \\Till 110 dotiht attribute 11is real great11ess to tl1e exercise of his ren1arkable q11alities of heart ai1d mi11d ii1 tl1e it1terest of the y\rorlcl 's peace. ~~i.t 110 for111er p2riocl ir1 tI1 \\"Or ld' s 11istorv.,. \\ras sl1cl1 a fore 111aki11g for peace 1nore i11dispe11sa_ ble, for tl1e te11de11c:vT of 11atior1a an1bitio11 to-da ,~ is to excel i11 t11 constructio11 of \"ast ar1na1ne11ts a11 i11 tl1e 1nobilizatio11 of \Tast ar111ie:-; It is a sad ai1d striki11g- co1n111e11tar_ upo11 our t1.,ve11 tietl1-ce11 tur)T ci \"i1 i zatio11 that \Y'"l1ereas for r1i11etee1 hunclrecl ~Tears the gospel of peac 11as bee11 proc1ai111ed frorn the 1)t11 J)its ai1d i)latfor111s of Cl1rjste11c10111, ·~~et to-da~' the great 11atio11s art 1)ristlj11g- Yvitl1 1)a)To11ets a11cl 1)e11cl i11g- be11eatl1 the \Veig-l1t of \\T2., taxes. \:\111e11 \\"e co11 sider t11a t there are t\\re1 \Te 111illio11 solcliers i11 I~11ror)e read)T to take t11e field : that t11e at111ual expe11diture of Er1gla.11cl: (-~er111a11y ... , France arid the l"'"11ite<l States. 011 accot111t of tl1eir ar1nie s a11d 11avies, a1Jproxi111ate te11 ht111- dred 1nillio11 clollars; tl1at t11e ,., .. c1 r debt 1)ei11g- carried b)T Cl1ristia11 11a_ - tio11s is 11earl \! thirt ·\' thousa11d mil - ~, - lio11 dollars, at1d tl1at the i11teresi 011 tl1is debt, plt1s the cost of mai11- taining armies ai1cl 11a v'"ies, mea11 s at least 11i11e 11u11clred 1n.illio11 clo]­ lars a \Tear, or six 1nillio11 dollars per da:.r, \\'"ru11g fro111 the \\Torlcl 's \\tear)T toilers, it is riot surprisi11,g­ tl1at tl1e best 1ninds ir1 the v'\'"orlcl have ra11ked as trul~T g-reat tl1e 1nonarch \l·l10 devi:oted l1is ta1e11t~ to the 1nai11tena11ce of peace atno11g the natio11s of the eartl1, ai1d the ema11cipation of 1nar1kincl fro1n 011e of its greatest scourges, a suicidal ri \ralrv i11 ar111a1ne11 ts. \\Ti thi11 the past fe\\'" \'Teeks tl1e heart-stri11g-s of

HOiiSF~ )F _\_SSE':\IBL y_~ PROCEE.D!N(i-S. ci\-i1izatio11 l1a '/e })ee11 \Ti1)ratio11s to the to11cl1 of tl1 at g·rea t pl1ila11 t11ro- 1 . . ·t· -:-.r: -' 11dre'''" Carne~tie). -vvl10 l ) ~ l ~ \ i • ~· l. ' ) _ ~as cleclicated te11 111illio11 (lollars of 1 1 1~ '.\Tea1t11 to the ca t1se <Jf u11i\rer~ 1 }\ sectio11 of t11e press ..,a peace. :->f botl1 co11 ti11e11 ts 11a s lYee11 co11- iecturi11g· l10Y\' this 111u11ifice11t giff c~111 1)c)ssj1)1)- 1)e used i11 J)ton1oti11µ: tl1e object for \1'l1ich it \Vas do11ated.

J t \ vil 1 1)e 11sed doubtless i11 t11e ~i_1ticatio11 ()f t11e vvorlcl 's pu1)1ic or)i11io11) tl1e ort1) .. fou11c1atio11 t1po11 v.Tl1ich t11e \\'Otld's IJeace ca11 r)e l)er111a11e11t}3r established. OL1r late .... 1~i11 o· recog11ized tl1is; the last 11i11e h - \;-ears of his life \i\~ere cle\rotPcl to t11is g·reat cause, a11d 1))T t11e ki11d"'" 11ess of l1is 11eart a11cl tl1e 111ajest~T c>f l1is 111i nd 11e so 111oulcled pub lie t)µi11ion a~ to mai11tai11 the peace of Europe a11d to la~y'" the fou11dation upon \vl1ich tl1e te1111)le of u11i'/ersa1 lJeace \\~ill }ret be based.

I l)elie\te 1 a111 correct i11 stati11g tl1at iii 110 })art of His ~Iajest)1's \vide do1ni11io11s \\ras sorrovv for his Llecease 111ore ge11eral or 111ore si11- · .___ere t11a11 i11 N e\v1"fo1111cll<:111d. I l1a ve for111ecl this opinion fron1 the ~\·icle11ces C)f lo:/alt)i ai1d_ affectio11 tl1a t I l1a ve seen i11 the l1on1es of e\Te11 t11e poorest of our people.

I11 tl1e course of n1y political life I 11a ve visited such 11on1es i11 ever,- creek -' a 11cl cove at1d 11a111let of 11earl\T -::\'ery district it1 t11e islar1d, and tl ere vvas scarcel:,r 011e i11 \\Thich a C<) oured plate or other pictt11-e of ot1r late king at1tl his ro3ral 1nother ·-li(l 11ot occup)T a co1rspicuous place. ¢l'l1es toke11s, sitnp1e a11d i11expe11- sive in tl1en1sel\Tes, cor1\'"e~-ed to 1n~' 111j11cl a \\rea1tl1 of lo:;ralt)T a11d cle­ votio11 011 the part of tl1ose wh.''> r)ossessecl t11e111.

Tl1e \Var111 at1cl g·er1ero11s fee1i11g·s c)f 011r l)eo1 le fc,r 1-I is ~1I ajest)- v\Tere b)'" 111111 at; \\T~1r111! ~ ,: r<::ciprocatecl ; of th-i~ fact l 11acl per­ so1lcll ]z110\\'1eclge. It \Vas ID)' l1if-:-~ . 1 pri \Ti 1 ege to 1)e 11or1ourecl b:? H ~ ·"' :\Iajes1)- ,~,/itl1 at1 eXJ)ression of 1-ii· . .; 1{ i11 ell )T i 11 terest. l\ 1 I )7 1 ast i11ter\-ic \ ·: \~:itl1 tl1e late 1{:i11g· \1;ras sl1ortl:yT 1 ~: · ·· fore 1 left I~11gla11cl for this Colo~~:.,. i11 19()/.

"\\Tl1P11 leaving· t11e p:· ... _ se11ce of His ~Iajest>T be said t{) 111e : 1 ' 1-\ell 111}"" people i11 X e1.vfo1111 c1- la11 d t11at I a!11 dee1)l)" i11terested ii1 their 11appiness at1d prosperit>-. '" \\The11 I l1acl a11 op1Jortuni t)r of ~1cl­ dressi11g· tl1e people fron1 11u1nerot1~.; platforms ai1d of delivering tl1is 1~oyal 1nessage to then1 the enth1.i-­ sias1n that was n1a11ifested spc) ke 1nost e1oc1ue11tl)- of their l1eart's tr11e feeli11g·s.

The great ki11g· is dead ! but J1e -vvill 11ever be for­ \J·otte11 vvl1ile ficlelit\r to dt1t\T l1cJlt-ls ~ - - . its J)lace i11 the grateful recollectic111 of ot1r race. \\:" e t11a>T be quite cer­ tai11, sir, tl1at the lo)ra .lt)r and de\,-C)­ tio11 arid lo\re of this people vvill 11ot 1)e \\ritl1he1d fro111 tl1e g·reat ki 11g-' s successor, His 1\1 ajest:y'" (i-eorg·c~ \y., for it is 0111:s- a fey\T )Tears si11cc· I-Ii,~ :;\;f ajest)T at1d Quee11 ?\I ar_yr hd11orecl this Colo11.)T \\-itl1 their prese11ce, a11cl 1)\T their Ullaffected kindl\- bear ill o· - - ~ gracious11ess at1d tact, cl1ar1necl a11d i.vo11 the hearts of all.

It has l1ee11 . said, at1d trul)r said; ·that no 111011- arcl1 vvho l1as sat upo11 the T11ro11e of Eng-land ever. l)rougl1t to tl1e

• r6 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCJ.:EDINGS. duties of that high station sucl1 a11 intimate ki1ovvledge of the outlying- - p:)rtions of the Empire as our pre­ sent Sovereign.

That this l~now­ ledge V\rill be tur11ed to practical .. accou11t IIis ivfajesty has alread5 1 clen1onstrated, at1d vve t11a-yT, tl1ere­ fore, -co11fidently expect . tl1at tl1e 1)011d 1)et\vee11 t11e ki11g and tl1e t1atio11 \\Till g-ro\\-' stro11g-er a11d stron­ ger as tl1e )Tears ad \ra11ce, e\ren tua­ ti 11g in tl1e g-reater E1npire territo­ rially of wl1ich \Ve drea111~ but an Empire 111ade greater a11d stronger \ by the closer vvea \7 i11g togetl1er of tl1ese silke11 cords of lo)7 altyT arid affectio11, and by tl1e \veldi11g to­ g·et her tt1 011e fir111 bo11d of brother­ l1ood the vTarious li11ks tl1at for111 . . . t11e cl1ai11 of Britisl1 E111pire.

Si1~, I at11 sure that tl1ere is 11ot a 111e1nber of this 1-Iouse but \i\Till joi11 it1 the i)ra),~er tl1at the · i\Jmig-hty J;z. uler of tl1e D 11i \Terse, out of the fu1111ess of 1-Iis ricl1e s at1d g·race, may gra11t u11to our So\rereig·11 J_,ord Ki11g George \iVTisdo111 ai1d lengtl1 of days to fulfill t11e 11igl1 ideals of ki11gsl1ip at1.d 11u111anity that 11a\re been bequeatl1ed ur1to l1in1 b11 his . illustrious fa th er. I beg to seco11d the 1notio11 that (_ - this i\ddress do pass. ... -\11d it \Vas ordered accordi11gl~y·. ADDRESS To His Most Gracious Maje:stv the King.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR 1;fAJESTY; We, Your Majesty's faithful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Cou11- cil ai1d the House of Assetnbl-yT of N evvfou11dland, i11 session con \T ned, respectft111y approach Yo Majesty witl1 this expressio11 deep ai1d heartfelt sorrovv for th deatl1 of our beloved Sovereig-11 l{jng Edward the Seventl1, arid our fealty at1d devotio11 to You 11ajesty 011 your accessio11 to th Tl1ro11e ..

As tl1e representatives of this, tl1 oldest Britisl1 Colo11y, we would as Your lvlajesty to believe that no \V 11ere Ii.as tl1e universal grief f el at t11.e death of your ro)7 al fat11e l1een 1nore poig-na11 t tl1an it1 N evv fou11dland, \iVhere he ever held specially vvar1n place in t11e affec tions of its people, \vl10 revere hin1 as tl~eir Sovereig·11, but love 11i111 for hi1nself. · His enlig-htene rule, by co11tributing to broade1 tl1e spacious mo\re1nents of natio11a coalescence, to ei1larg·e the freedo at1d liberties of his subjects, a11d t exalt the pri11ciples of constitutiona g·o\rer11ment, aided 111ateriallj r 111 tl1 advancement of his over-seas pos­ sessions ai1d tl1e spread of tl1a t ci vi at1d religious liberty which is ot1 proudest boast.

His late 11Iajesty 's eminent quali­ ties as a ruler were conspicuously appare11t, arid the u11erring vvisdom of his public policy \Vas beyond disputet . "'' hile 11is ad1nirable per­ sonal attributes at1d that rare char1n of truest king·ship which .. displa1red itself it1 co11sideration for the least of l1is subjects, won for him their affectionate reg·ard and revere11ce. By his tolerance, his liberality and his warmtl1· of heart, he bound to-

HOUSE OF ASSEl\'.IBLY PROCb:EDINGS. aetlier r11ore firm l~· e\·er_yT

section of ~11 e vast Ei11pire 11e ruled so wisely atld :::o \Vell dL1ri11g the ni11e years tl1 at Provide nee co11 fided to his hat1c1~ tl1e exercise of saver\. ig'n all­ thoritv it1 this migl1ty real1 :11. 1"'11e ~ n1anifestatio11s of g'ri,ef at 11i--; death, profo1 .1r1cr' tr1011gl1 tl1ese }Jfo\;red to l)e, \vere 11e\11::rthele .ss · bt1t a . feeble expression , of t11e sorrow ft:lt for one ·\,r}1 o vva·s · no less· a kir1gly man tl1a11 ' . .. ' . ' a 111 a 11 l v Ki n g . · ~ .

I11 ·this ·111ourr1i11g for the ill11stri- ous dead all 11.ati_o11s joi1)ed, griev­ ing for a moriarcl1 · \vhose all too brief reign 'formed a11 epoch i 11 the \vorld's history~o11e marked by that peace wi tl1 11011ot1r al vv.ays the object of a rt1ler a11d a p.eople truly • great.

This t1niversal regret fitti11g- ly expressed the world's a pprecia·­ tion of the se.lf-s .acrifici n g la bo i1 rs of ·a 111onarch whose whole · career s11ovved him to be i m.bued \vi th the r1oble 111ission of 9ri'nging about har111or1y in inter11atio11al relatio11s by the pro111otion of n1t1tt1al kno\\'­ ledge and n1 u t t1 al tr11st.

We pray tl1at the King of Peace 111 a y grant to Your Majesty. to · yo t1 r Ro)ral Consort, to tl1e Qt1een Do\\·­ ager, and to tl1e C>ther nie111bers of the Roya 1 Fa111 ily, in this perso11al bereaveme11t which has been to the nation ' a calamity, tl1e healir1g baln1 of Divine .Consolation; and we trt1st that the -111emories of the \Vo r k vvrought for pea·ce on this earth by the kingly soul recentlv recalled to _, the other \ .. vorld, n1ay lighten the burden of your sorro\v. 011r fer­ vent pra)~er also is tl1at Your Ma- c • jesty 1118)' be \1oucl1safecl a 1011g a11d glorious reig11, . erido\\'ed v\·itl1 tl1e blessing of peace and prosperit)·, ·a11d tliat, t1nder the vvise gt1'ida11ce ·Of \\':11icl1 );our statesn1a11like pt1r- • poses alrea ·<ly ass11re ·t1:-:,' · t11e En1- . pi re's :1 nfl LJence: n1ay ~\ 1 er i t1crease ai1d ' tl1e. clev()tiot1 of ]"Ot+.r st1i>jects, ir1 tl1e l\rI'otl1erland a11d ·in tl1e Br itisl1 Do111i11ions .. l)e)ro11d t ,11 e Seas, ti) )ro.ur person ancl t11ro11e l)e ii1te11~i- . ' fi,ed_, tl1at yot1 111ay sl1ed 11evv l L1 .stre ' - 011 yo11r t1a111~ a11cl a11cestr~- by faitl1- ful ser\1ice i11 tl1e great~s .t of p11t.)lic trusts : that man can be called to f L1lfil, the· ~o\rereig11ity of tl1is ..

Br t- ish E r11 pi re. ..,. Tl1e HON. the P·RIME MINI" STER t l1er1 tnoved, secor1decl b , . Rt. Ho11. Sir R. ,Bo11d, Leader c;f the Oppositio11, tl1e acloptiori of t}1e fo110\vi11g Address to His , E 'xcel· le1:icy tl1e Gover11or :- · To His Excellency Sir Ralph Ch a t11 p t1 t; )Ts \V i 11ia111 s,. K . C . NI . G , Governor and Co111ma11der-i 11- Chief in and over t11e .

Isla11d of Nevvfou11c1la11d a11d' its Depend- . enc1es : . i ·' . ' I -' ' . . 1"11e Legisl~tive Co1111cil and the Hot1se of A~sembly havi11g passed the accon1panying Address to His Most Gracious 1'Iajesty the Ki1Jg, request that Your Excellency may ~ be pleased to transn1it the same to the Right Honourable the · Secre­ tary of State fo·r the Coloi1ies for presentatio11 to His Majesty. ' ·And it was ordered , accordingly.

18 • HOUS:E 011 AS,S·EMBL Y P'ROCEEDINGS .. On motiori · of the , 'HON. the PRIME MINISTER · it was order- · , ed that a message · be sent to the Legislative Council ,. requesti11g its ,concurrence in the said Address~ MR.

GOODISON- ·I rise for the ·purpose · of movi11g the -ap.pointment 'Of a : Sele .ct · Comm ·ittee to draft a!r1 Address 'in Reply ·to · the Gracio11s S·peech from the Throne. · In doing _ so, Sir _, I sl1a.ll b:e glad to avail of the " Opportu r1ity, vvitl1 tl1e permission of' the Hot1se. to n1ake a few observations 011 sotne of the n1atters which have been brought before our notice to da)r by His Excellency. In . his openi-1).g ren1arks His Ex­ cellency made reference to the deatl1 oJ our late King, and also the ac­ cession of King George.

Tbes·e _events, Sir, have already to-day re­ ceived suitable recog11ition from this , House. The Prime Minister, and the · Leader of the Oppositio ·n have spoken most appropriately and effectively on both rnatters. It, therefore, is not necessary that I should refer to either be:y·o11d add­ i11g that I am in ft1ll accord with · the remarks which have fallen from ~ both Hon. gentlen1en, . a.nd I . am ' ' equally sure, Sir, t~at th~ir . re- marks reflect the feeling of every tnan in our Island Home.

I observe with much satisfaction that His Excellency announces the intention of the Govern1ne11t to erect as a memorial to the late King a Home for Nurses in. con­ nection with tl1e General Hospital. ' ~ I regard this as a most appropriate memorial.

The interest vvhic Ki11g George a]ways evinced i every movement vvhich made fo the bettern1ent of his p 1 eople, wa especially shown in tl1e i11a11r1er i which he supported at1d \vorke ·d· fo the Hospitals in his ki11gdon1. ·I is therefore a happy resolve on th part of our Go,rernn1e11t that New fou11dland 's memorial to our lat belo·ved King should take the form of ai -i.' King Edv,,.ard N11rses Home~"' · Such a Home, Sir., ha become a necessity i11 any case.

The ever i11creasing work of ou General 1-Iospi-tal has made .a cor­ responding increase i11 the staff of nurses necessary, until~ at the pre­ se11t tin1e there are in residence at the Hospital so1ne forty nurses, cot1nting those who are now in trai ni llg .. Heretofore these · forty nurses have occupied 011e large dorn1itory. When the new Home is built this dormitory will be avail­ able and will be at once fitted up ior patients, and it will n1ean that some fifty or sixty n1ore cots will he added to the present Hospital accom111odation, a11 arrangement which I am st1re will comn1and itself generally. - , . .

His Excellency in th,e next para- . graph bri ·11gs to our attention the recent Arbitration before the Ha­ gue Tribunal, settling, as w~ hoped it ha~ done, a complicated qt1estion -which ·has disturbed the relations ' of the countries concerned for very many years. Tl1is Arbitration, Sir, comes to t1s it1 the natt1re of a ' ' legacy from tl1e late Gove _rnment.

ROUSE ;·oF A_SSE1t1IRI..Y PROCEEDINGS. Whei1 the ;adn1i11istratio11 of Sir Edward 1f orris took office the~ iotind that all tl1e cletails had beer1 arranged for holding this Arbitra­ tion and that notl1ing remai11ed for tben1, but to see that the interests of the Colo11y \vere safe-guarded ·. This they proceeded to do. The servic ·es of the most eminent coun­ sel were arrang ·ed for, · men who vvere experts in this line of work, and from this side there went to o-ive ad vice on purely local matters, ~ . : our own Prime Minister and Attor- ney General, ·· with Sir James vVinter as special counsel.

Tl1e re­ sult has been an award, Sir, which apparently leaves all parties satis­ fi.ed. The United States claims that the award has been given the vvay they want it ; Canada claims that ., she is equally satisfied, -vvhile New­ foundland thinks the matter might have been worse · for her. Time alone will tell w l1ether the a ward to us is worth the amount of money which this Arbitration vvill un­ doubtedly cost the Colony.

It is a matter for satisfaction to find that the Prime Minister has bee11 able to arrange during 11is recent trip to Washington for the settlement· of an)r side questions which may arise · b)r a less expensive method than r~­ ference to the Board of Experts, or back, if necessary · to the Hague Tribunal itself. A copy of this · .i\.greement will be laid before us during the"- session, at1d \Ve shall hope that further Arbitration may not be necessary. . .

His Excellency refers in the next paragraph to the fact that onr Is- · land is at prese11t time in a prosper­ ous condition, not~ithstanding the shortage in the catch of fish along the Labra(;ior coast last summer. This Sir, is a matter for sincere congratulation, having in view the fact that only a very . few years ago a shortage in the . catch of fish on the Labrador : mould have meant . . at1ythin :g but prosperity for our Colony.

The time appears to have go11e and I hope for ever, when the prosperity .of our ·Colony is solely depending upon the fisheries~ It is unfortunately true that during the past season the Labrador catch has been practically a failure and fol­ lowing on the same result last . year when the catch was equally bad, it has made it specially hard for both .· fisher1nen ai1d supplying merchant. I , am not so sure, Sir, but this fail- ,., ; ure of the fishery . is a blessing it1 disguise. It vvill certainly curtail t11e old system of credit supplying which has been the bane of the Colony for many years.

We have had the adva11tage of good prices for the fish . which was obtained, the law of supply and de­ mand enduring this, and these good prices have materially helped the condition of affairs. In our €hief bulk fish markets to-day, however, the Mediterrane~n, it is vvell .for us to remember that vve are nGt the 011ly country exporting. The Nor­ wegians are ther~, and the French this year and last are our greatest competitors. It \Vill not do for us

20 HOUSE OF ..1-\SSEMBLY PROCEEDING ·S. to be careless in our metl1ods of either cure or shipment. · \Ve ca11- not afford to shi.p. fish no'\\r that ,is not of the very best quality. We shall assuredly be the losers if vve follovv such a polic)r. . I am glad to fi11d that the Seal, · .Herring, Lob- ' Ster, \Vl1ale a·nd other fisheries were prDsecuted vvith good results, and to lear11 also that no curtailment of fishery operations is co11te111plateO. · tl1is ):"'ear.

I observe also tl1·at t11e ex1)ort of Minerals has bee11 v\rell 111aintai11ed and tl1at opera tio11s i11 tl1e futt1re · \vill be 011 a n1ore et1tensive scale t11a11 heretofore.

It ma)r npt be q11t · of place here to state that the Bell Island tax on ore for the past nine ' months has netted in round figures - · · $80, 000, and will, it is hoped by · the end of tl1e fiscal year, have tur11ed into the Treasury a rou11d $1.00, 000, thus justifying tl-1e esti- 111ates of tl1e Gover11n1ent i11 this con11ectio11. · His Excelle11cv 11ext 1n a k es -' know11 to tis the ver)r gratif)Ting fact tl1at the I-4oa11 authorized b',r the Le-gislature last . session f9r tl1e constructio11 of tl1e branch rail Y\ravs - -. . l1as been raised in E11gla11d by ·t11e - (}over11ment 011 terms niore advan- . tageous tl1an any pre\rious fina11cial operatio11 affected by the · Colony. 1 remember distinctly .that last ses­ sion when the Prime Minister gave · it as his opinio11 that he would ,be able to place this Loa11 · at 96 net, the · idea \:'\ras ridiculed b)r the · OJJ- . position~ I believe, ·if · my. memory se1·ves me right, that it · ·vvas . sug- g·ested __ that he would be doing· .\ \ re if he rea lized 91 or 92.

The re st1 ' . has sl1own, . Sir, that the Pri •• 1v1inister krrevv \vhat he \Vap tal ki11 about. · I -understand that 97 1 . ' ' was actually obtaine .cl \vhich woul , . give us 9.6 clear, and I heartily· co grat11late Sir Edward 1v1:orris ·an . '· ·' tl1e Gover11111ent on this excell e sho\ving. Ar1d, as tl1e S.peech fro tl1e -Tli_rome furtli_er ii1fo:·ms us, . t . I ' . u1oney thus obtained is not eat i1 idle . bread. It l1as b~en depos it . in tl1e Banks of our city on ter \V l1ich }1ielcl rather 1nore than wh it costs. Tl1e interest is compo1 1n . . ed everv tl1ree n1ontl1s.

It costs -' 3 1-·2 per cent." and vve g·et 3 1 per ce11t. ·vv-ith compound inte res until su.c_h time as it is ·required . Reference is also n1ade to th ' Bra11ch Railwa)tS ap.d to the exce lent progress . b~ing . 1nade. Thes railwa) 7 S authorized b)' the I ... egis l ture . last session are being co structed witl1 ali dispatch. T 011e began last year is almost c co pleted. In fact, if the \Veatl1er h co11ti1'ued at all fair last fa11, t line would _ 11ave bee11 laid i11 . . Bonavista by 11ovv.

However, it is, the tracl~ is graded al1nos t the end ai1d tl1e rails laid to vvith. 22 1niles of Bona vista. 1'his bra 11 is to be fin ished first _ in the spri n and then the Trepassey and I--Ieart Content 1Jranches will be . un de tal{:en. It is l1oped tl1at e\ren gre ter progress \vill b.e made this ye th?-n was tnade last year. - T 1nuch ca11not be said as to the bo ,this ra11 \Vay vvork is to the ~Tork in \

HOL'SE OF .. t\.SSbMBLY PROCEEDIXGS. 21 111a11 , the fi.sl1ern1 a11, of this Colon? r. '1-\bis \Vas especially 11oticeable last ,~ear, whe11, com i11g 11on1e after ·. tlte· ~tter failure of t h e fis.heries, 'our· ' nien had no diffi culty i11 ,.findi11g \VOrk \Vl1icl1 prov ided for their vvin­ ter. Agair1, Sir, I would endorse t11e \Vise provi sion made by our . . ~ Go\rernment in tl1eir railway c·on- tract of last )rear vvl1ereby our 1nen are guarant eed $I.50 per day ·in­ stead of the old rate of $1.00 . paid 011 the com1)le ted cross-countr)T line.

The lines as co1npleted v\rill be · at ()nee oper~1t ed, and it is to be re­ me1nbered that the Co11tractor oper­ ates them at his own expense, at1d for forty y e '.lrs. Certai11ly t11e Co11- tractor must 11a ve high reg-ard for the latest p ossibil ities · as to traffic, both passe nger ai1d .freight, in the dist~icts tl1r o11gl1 vvl1ich this railwaA ' . g·oes, or h e \vould 11e\rer have con­ se11ted to such a stipulatio11. It is \vell tha t \'Ve sl1ould ren1e1nber that operati1 1g cloes 11ot cost tl1e Colo11y one ce11t u riti l the li11es are tur11ed O\let to th e G o\:ernment 40 years hence.

It is but fair too tl1at I should re­ fer to the ex cellent relations i)re­ \railing 1)etvvTeen Co11tractor a11d the me11 en1 pl o y~ed. The mer1 are trea- , t ed fair 1)1, arid the Contractor has n o cause to complain of the \vork bei11g g iven 11im in retur11 for l1is . . dollar and a l1alf a day. ' His Excellency next calls our at- · tention to the intention of tl1e Gov­ ernmen t to bring in a Bill this ses­ sion for tl1e purpose , of co11 verting­ the old. debe11ture bo11ds of this Colo11y ii1to inscribed st oc1~ . 1'11is does not mean a 11ew Loan in ' any ·w·av.

It is done \Vit l1 t.he idea ol ~ ( . maintaining a party with all ' our paper. It appears that in England a.,nd elsewhere trustees are not al- lowed by la\v to in\rest their trust fu11ds in del1e11ture bonds, \Vl1ilst they are allowecl to invest tl1en1 i11 it1scribed stock. It is rather a sur­ prise to find on the official bu11eti11 .· of the Stoclz Excl1at1g e of London~ ' . our 3 1-2 per cent. deb enture bo11ds listed at 94 arid our 3 1-2 per cent r. i11scribed stoclz of our l ast t11ree-­ issues at 998.

J t1st tl1e same value ,.: just the sa1ne securit)T, both equally ­ good, but the one under the Seal of t l1.e Colo11y a tr11stee' s i11\Testn1e11t ; the other not a leg al invest1ne11t .

It is now propose d._ to exchange ail the debenture bo11ds for inscribecl stock and tl1is state of affairs \Vill ,_ be ended. · In the next parag·raph we have I-l~ t:, Excellency calling our atten­ tion to one of the most in1porta11t measures outlined in this sessio11. \\The11 tl1e J)arty of Sir ' Eclvvard Morris vvent to the country it1 190 8 at1d again i11 the spring of 1909, one of the pro1nise s \V hi ch \vere tl1e11 111ade \V as tha t if retur11ed to po\ver, a n () ld Age Pension scheme ' 1Nould be put throug ·l1.

This 1)rom- ise is' 110\v a bout to 1Je fulfille cl .' _i\ measure dealing v11ith t11e matter will be brought dov:r11 at tl1is ses­ sio11. I understa11d that tl1e pla11 bv \V l1icl1 it is to be carried out \Vill ~ be tl1at $200, 000 \i\7 ill be take11 from the surplus of tl1is )rear ai1d in vested

• 22 HOUSE OF ASSEMB.L Y PROCEEDINGS. . . ii] : the ~4 :-v.er cent. d~benture boµds of·. t4i ~.~ · c~lon>r. T~is will g~·i- v :e ~ --~ z . • ~8. ,000. a year, .and this $200,000 :vv.:jll, form the nucleus of what wilJi .. .... ,\.. .tt>~ • • be an Old Age Pension Fund~. ·~-· With tl1is $8,000 tµC\t. _is ob;tainoed~ - . . ,,, ' : .. J - ~he Go\rer11ment propose to ask for J ,a direct vote of $12, 000; this : will ' _1nake in all .. $20, 000 available - this ' . . ' year for Old Age Pensions. It is further -proposed that the pension~ s , ' \ .. shall be $50 a year for .each man on tl-1e. list.

The idea is that this~ . . \V-if 1 lessen the drain on the . present Poor Fund,' and make all the more for those who are left-the widows · and orphans wl10 are not thus pro­ vided for. It will mean, Sir, that 4()0 \vorn out fi.sl1ermen and La­ borers 'vill have ati. assured income '· for. life of $50 per year. There will . ; be but 400 to start with, but this is only the beginning. Next year it is proposed to similarly provide for another 400, and so on until every . aged ma11 in this island who is in . need of it, will be able to avail of it.

Concurrently with this _ scheme His Excellency an.nou11ced that the Government is planning further as asistance for the educational grant to be used to provide for the isolated settlements, the small places w.here now no schools exist. The Gov­ ernment, I understand, Sir, have bee11 to considerable _ pains to get full reports from school inspectors .. to help them to a proper under-, . standing in this matter.

These re- ports !Show, Sir, that in this island of ours to-day there are 65 settle­ me11 ts where there are no schools at all, there are 60 settlement V\rl1ere scl1ools are kept open for les then six months, for lack of fu11ds) and there are 200 settlements: wher scl1ools are only kept open from si to nin,e months for a like reason A.ru appropriation for- such a pur pose · will mean, that t11e right o every -man in this Colony to ha v h:is-cllilld receive at least an elemen­ tary education vvill be recog --hized. tr·ne men in these settlement~--· hel to pay the taxes as well as the men in the more favoured districts, an their rigl-its sl1ould be respeeted, and I am sure that the action of the Governme11t will be vvarmly com­ mended.

His Excellency informs us, also, that the telegraph system is to be . furtl1er extended to remote parts of the i~land, hitherto unprovided for, and that it is hoped to completely encircle the St. Barbe peninsula to Port Saunders, a dista11ce of 115 miles, touching at Norris' Point, Cow Head and Parso11s' Po11d . This is but a part of the proposed · "'rr .. extension. It is now inte11de.d to - . run it on to Port a11f Choix, .Brig Bay, Flower's Cove, Cape Nor¢a11, . .... _-·· . ~ i~'" . " • c Quirpon,~ Gr1quet, St. Anthony, L . • Lock's Cove, Co11che, and Englee. . \Vhen .

I tell you, Sir, that . there are between six . and eight thousand floats frequenting this coast every S,1:1mmer, you will understand . the importa11ce we attach to this work. In the past a vveekly service has ~ upplied tl1e west side of the coast as far as Flower's Cove, and on the north-east and east side a fortnightly

HOUSJ! OF ,-\.SSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS. service to Quirpon, and that only betvveen May and December. After that, it is only the courier who g·ets around the coast at all. Cape Norman and Cook's Harbour on this coast are most important. It isithere our floaters harbour, an~ yet they have never l1ad any , ... ~ :-~,,le­ graphic communication vvitl1' t~e rest of the island. Our fishermeh every year, on their way to Labra~ dor, touch in on this coast to ·see what they can get there, but here­ tofore there have been 110 means of o-ettinO- infor1n ·ation as to \vl1ether b ~ b fi..sh is there or not.

Our pla11 is to make a complete circuit of St. Barbe peninsula, with the idea that if the line becomes broken on one side, telegraphic communicatio11 can . still be kept up on the other. It is also proposed to exte11d the Marconi wireless system on our West Coast and Labrador. Last year it was comtemplated putting up six stations, a«r.ri this pla11 is now to be carried out. The first station will be at Cape Fogo to con­ nect with one on Belle Isle. The station at Cape Fogo will be in all respects an up-to-date :rviarconi Station.

There will be another at Grady ; another at Cape Harrison, and for this latter statio11 the n1a­ terial . is now on the spot ; another at Makovik, which was erected last year and will be operated this year; another at Cape Harrigan. and an­ other at Paul's Island just outside of Ford's Harbour, vvhich is vvithi11 20 or 30 miles of N ai11. 1"hese in operation last year at Battle I-far- bour, Venison Island, America11 Tickle, Domino and Indian Har­ bour, . will take care of the whole of the Labrador Coast very fully.

We hope, also, in the near future to be able to carry this scheme out down to Cape Chidley, and to connect with the system which will be' erec­ ted, we understand, at Fort Church­ hill by the Canadian Government, ; . thus making a circuit of the whole Newfoundland and Canadian La-, brador. I need not point out, Sir, . the immense advantage this will be to our fishermen on the I~abrador · Coast, giving information, as it will, of ice m~ve±nents, and mak'­ ing it possible . for men to locate fish and get up and dow11 the coast without the risk they now run.

To complete this programme, I under.;. stand that the Minister of Marine and Fisl1eries has recom1nended to the Government that tl1e mail boats shall be fitted with wireless tele­ graphy, and if this is only done it . will mean that the fishermen will not have to go even as far as the Marconi · statio11s, b.ut can get on board the mail boat as she passes up and down the coast, send his messag~ and get his 'reply without waiting·. I hope the Government . see their way clear to carry this out in the near future.

The Caha -dian , . ' Government is contemplating ~1~fy- ing the wireless telegraphy as · far as Fort Churchill. We will then have a complete circuit of the La­ brador Coast. This will mean much to our isolated fishermen, and it will mean much to the seal ... •

• • HOUSE OF ASSEl\1BLY PP .. OCEEDINGS. _ing industry, since inforn1ation n1ay thus be obtained as to the locality _and moveme11ts of the fisl1, th.e ice, · and the seals. His Excellency also tells us that it is the intention of the Govern­ me11t to arrange this year for an . iinproved service to Fogo and in Fortune Bay. There can only be one opinion regarding these ser­ \rices ; the) 7 are i1nme11sely superior to \vl1at these districts have hitherto enjoyed. -.

I hope tl1e Governn1ent will soo11 see their "\Va),. clear to ex- ". tend to other and needy places tl1e , sa1ne kind of service they 11ave ' ' . given to the · districts of Fogo and · Fortune Bay. Reference .is made to tl1e neces­ sity for cold storage. We are told that the Government have arrang­ ed· with a large .i\.merican firm of capitalists to erect a large cold stor­ age plant on the West Coast. One approaches the subject of cold stor­ ag·e with considerable diffidence for vve have heard so mucl1 about it i11 the past without results.

But in this case the Governme11t have used every care ai1d have satisfied them­ selves fully as to the sta11ding an~l bona £.des of the firm. The . capi- , ralists with whom .the agreement has been made are vve11 known and • reliable business men of Portland, Maine, who have been doing .a large business for 1nany years.­ Their standing is guaranteed by bankers and commercial men of that city. They have agreed to come here and establish five cold storage plants, also fi\re smoking plants and five glue factories, a n will also unclertake the manu fa ture of fertilizers and other by- pr ducts.

Theit l1ope is tl]at vvith th use of the cold storage plants the may be able to supply large c1ua tities of fresh fish to the .l\meri ca market at ·a fair margi11 of pro fi American fishermen novv send ca r ~ after cargo of herring to Glouc;est e where they are curecl at1d smok e a11d still profitably ~old, and tli promoters tl1i11l.c .by doir1g tl1e c t1 i11g \V here they are sure of ~et t facilities they'" ca11 realize a great profit.

So they have entered .int an agreement vvitl1 th_e Gqvernme n und_er the ·provisions of the Col Storage Act of last year, \vhi c guarantees them the ec1uivale11t o 5 per cent. _on their investment b this Government. --'-t\rrangement have also been made with an E ng lish fir1n to come l1ere and ma n facture explosives. Last )rear so $80,000 vvorth of explosives \Ver , imported into this country, a ' amount that should form the bas· . . of a good business if secured. T h company believe they can do the . manufacturi11g here much chea p tl1an they are at present doing it and they are willing to tak e th . . risk.

The agreement with the will be handed do\vn for . rat ifica tion. The Government have als . entered into ai1 agreement with peat ,manufacturing ' fir1n, wl10 ho to start operations during the n ex year. ., The paragraph in His E x cel lency's Speech which follo\vs is th

HOUSE OF . .'\SSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS. 25 one which deals 'vith the operation of the agricultural policy of tl1e Governme11t during the past year. It was one of the planks in the plat­ form of this party that every effort should be. made tovvards the de-velop­ mei1t of agriculture in this Colony. It has been one of the main aims of the present Gover11ment since it came into office, and no effort has been ·spared to make the work done valuable and effective.

During· the past year the Depart~e11t of Agri­ culture and Mines has pursued that object with gteat vigor ; they have imported into the Colony some of the best live stock obtainable to im­ prove the local stocks. Seventy new agricultural societies vvere formed duri11g the past year. Of these sixty-three were instituted by members of the Board of Agricultttre personally ~ the other seven, being in places difficult to reac.h, "\ivere started by residents. To these 70 societies a sum of $17, 600 has been granted, each society receiving -a grant of $200, except in a fe\V cases where a little more vvas added.

In addition to that, tl1e Government im­ ported 30 Sable Island ponies, which have bee11 distributed throughout the island~ . They have imported 50 pure bred bulls and 1,000 barrels of potatoes have been distributed for seed. The Department of Agri­ culture and Mines has kept in touch with those to whom . this seed vvas distributed and carefully tabulated all returns sent in ; and it will l)e interesting to kno\v that wl1ile the average crop used to be seven or D eight barrels from a barrel of seed the new seed has increased the average in man~r cases to 22 barrels. This is an ·increase which speaks for itself.

During tl1e coming· year there 'vill be a still further distribu­ tion of pure bred cattle ; · and ar­ rangements have been made to pur­ chase 500 sheep 250 pigs, 50 bulls and another · 1; 000 barrels -of seed potatoes . . In October and November, it will . ' be ' remembered, an agricultural ex- hibition was held here in St. J oh11 's. The Gover11ment promoted it and its carr)ring out was under the management of · the 1\1inister of Agrict1lture and Mines.

It · vvas, I believe, tl1e most succes .sful exhibi­ tion of the kind ever l1eld here, . ar1cl it vvras an eye opener to everyone as to tl1e agricultural possibilities of this country.,.. Exhibits came ·in from all over tl1e country, every district took part. \Ve had son1e fro1n St. Barbe, from Bonavista, from Fogo, St. George's, Trinity and Tvvi1lingate and from all over the country.

The judges; experts vvho came here from Canada say that the exhibits could compare favorably with tl1ose at any of the f ai1·s held in Canadian provincial tovvn=s, and they 1vere astonished that we should still l1ave to import so much for our own use. From 30,000 to 40,000 barrels of pot·atoes and turnips are imported into the countr).,. each year, and yet we could grow ourselves the finest potatoes and turnips they could wish to see. And the prizes did

z6 IIOUS'E OI1' ASSEl\IB 'LY PROCEEDINGS. riot go only to the farn1ers of St. John's. Even the district of St. ' Barl?e vvon a first prize for cabbage, Harbor Grace won seven and so· on. Every district competing held its ow11. 1-\he Governme11t having decided to g-et expert advice, they induced some of the foremost A.gri­ culturists in Canada to come here. Dr. Robertson, than whom there is no more emine11t ma11 in his li11e i11 Cariada, or· indeed in America, . came down and gave us his opinion and advice. He vvas most et1coura­ ging. Dr.

McPhail also came.- 1~he opinio11s were all upon tl1e same lines,, that it should not be 11ecessar)r for us to import any of tl1e \regetables which \Ve \ivere i1n­ porting- so largely. I vva·s much irn­ pressec1 b}r the address Mr. Brown­ i11g, who made the opening speech on behalf of the manufacturers. He claimed that it was impossible to sell local manufactured goods because of the prejudice that existed against them. Does the sa111e thing apply to the products of the soil? Surely it ma,y not be1 for finer products it is impossible to grovv. ~vir. Browning made the st·atement tl1at if a pair of St.

John's boots vvere offered side by side with · iin­ ported ones, the foreign

article would sell every time. That pre­ judice this exhibition ·sl1ould do a great deal to obliterate; it 11as been an object lesson to tl1e people of this Colo11y. The Manufacturers' Exhibition was as good or even better. The 1nanufactures were sho\¥11 in such a way as shoul '.d certainlyT dispel an:y~ s11ch prejudice \Ve should be patriotic and bu) local manuf actur ·ed goods and local gro\vn vegetables, novv tl1at '1Ve ha v shown it is possible to suppl)r them for the 1oc·al market, a11d l think tl1at the time is coming whet1 th.

Gov .er11ment wi11 11ave to take step to see that where articles of local product1011 are available, it shall not be possible to i1npo1t articles o the same nature,, His Excellenc}T states that this year's reve11ue l1a been the largest in the l1istory o the Colony, the surplt1s an1ot.1ntin to $400,000; $200,000 of vvhich ha been a.ppropriated to the Old Age Pension Fund, arid $100,000 ap portioned to the districts in the same "ray as last year.. ,.fhe co11dition of the cou·ntry's finances is speciall}" gratifying when we remember that during the past two years vve have had partial failures of the Labrador fisheries..

It demonstrates in n uncertain \Vay tl1at vve are at last 'Carrying our eggs in more than one basket ; the result of the develop­ ment · of l1ew industries . brought about by the introduction of out­ side capital. Nevvfound1and is gra­ dually becoming known to the out­ side world, ai1d vve are fortunate in having at the head of our Govern­ me11t a man who is seeing that the country is. receivi11g its proper shar of advertising, a man who believes in ]1is country, and who has faith in her possibilities 1 and. who iSJ using l1is efforts to induce men of capital to develop her latent in­ dustries.

The yea1· that 1-ias past

• HOlJSE OF ASSE1VI:BLY PROCEEDIKGS. 27 has bee11 an exceptionally good one, but -vve confidently lool{ to the com­ ing year to t)e a better. ~1r. Speaker, I have inuch plea­ sure in moving· that a com1nittee be appointed to draft tli.e .l\ddress in Reply to His Excellency's gracious speech. ~1 R. H 0 \VI_.(EY rvir.

Speal{:er, I have n1ucl1 pleasure in secondi11g tl1e motion for ·tl1e appointment of a Committee to draft an .i\ddress in Reply to His Excellency's most gracious Speech from tl1e T11rone. ... \s a general rule, when tl1e Speech from the Tl1rone indicates a great prosperity with every prospect of a continuance this is a ver)r pleasant duty. The pleasure in tl1is case is not lesse11ed by my being associated in it \vith my hon. friend tl1e me111- ber for Carbonear, who 11as tnade such a \rery able · at1d eloquent ad­ dress.

I shall not occupy the at­ te11tion of the House witl1 a11y lengtl1y remarl{s at this late hour, but I should like to ref er to one or t\vo points. The late lamented death of our late l{ing, Ed,vard VII., has been spoken to so abljr and eloquently by t11e Hon. t11e Premier and the I~t. Hon. the Leader of the Oppo­ sition, that it would be prest11n1J­ tuous for tne to atten1pt to add an}T­ tl1ing to what they have said.

I ma)r perhaps be per1nitted to say tl1at I had special occasion to per­ sonally witness the intense loyalty and devotion of our people, even in the humblest settleme11ts of .tl1e Colony, to the 1'hrone and to the person of the IZ:ing. \Vhen the news flasl1ed over tl1e wires that the IZ:ing was no more I 11appened to be in a re111.ote place in the Dis­ trict of Burgeo.

I was accom­ panied by? an English gentleman, vv 110 \Vas astonisl1ed at the reve- . re11ce, love and loyalty shown . by all · sectio11s and co11ditions of ot1r people, a feeling \vhich . seems to have been universal, exte11ding to the \Tery et1ds of the En1pire. rf'heir grief -vvas 1nost disinterested and .. most sin.cere.

The wonderful per­ sonality of Edward VII. hacl 1na,de an impression not alo11e upon Ii.is own subjects but upon the vvhole vvorld ; and \vhile vve realize . that '' Peace hath its .victorie .s no less reno~1ned tha11 war,'' we · 11a ve a closer realization of that axiom 'vhen we reflect that tl1e glory of Edward VII., a glor)r obtained by l1is efforts in the cause of peace, will probably last 1011ger and shine n1ore brigl1tly t11an tl1at of a11y of the great world conquerers of past centuries.

Each of us i11 our l1u1n­ bler spheres can take and hold the lesson of his life and so shape our conduct that vv b.en ,;ve too co1ne to the inevitable day of reckoning, we ma)r as truly as our late Ki11g be able to say, '' It is all over ; but I tl1ink I have done my duty.'' Mr. Spea.l{er, I an1 very pleased to note t11e prosperous condition of tl1e country's commerce, industries ai1d rever1ue. I am pleased to note the indications of the opening up of 11ew in.dustries, t11e coming in of outside capital, the avvakenir1g, so •

• HOUSE OF ASSElVIBL Y PROCEEDINGS. to speak, of Ne-vvfoundland. Like 1ny hon. friend, the member ' for Carbonear, I do . not think I would be doing my duty if I did not take this opportu11ity to sa)r that if New­ foundland is about to enter upJ11 her own, and about to assume that pla ,ce -vvl1ich she is entitled to, we have in a great measure to tha11l~ the tireless ei1ergy, the i11defatiga­ ble ii1dustry, the boundless patrio­ tism at1d faith in his native la11d of tl1e Pren1ier all ' through his life, l)ut 111ore particularly since he assumed 11is present office.

I say tl1is vvitl1- out in any \Va)r atten1pting to clis­ parage tl1e great arid disi11terestecl services rendered in the past by such men as have occupied t11e position of Prime 11inister.

But the characteristics of tl1e prese11 t Premier are his wonderful energy and capacity for vvork. 1-\he ideas 11e conceives 11e carries into execu­ tio11, and the cou11try is reaping the benefit of 11is activity at1d vigor. 'Ve see 011 all sides evide11ce of 11is efforts to raise up and advertise tl1e country and to bri11g ii1to it capital and industry -:fot ''·-t,he people. 1-\here is not a 1nagazine ' of any conse­ que11ce that 11as 11ot had fr~m l1is prolific pen some

article about N evv­ foundland, its resources or attrac­ tions. He has given his life ex­ clu.sively to tl1is country, and vvhile other me11 have do11e t11eir work 1.v hile ii1 office and deserved the thanks of the cou11 try for tl1eir ser­ vices, I thi11k I 1nay say conscien­ tiously at1d sincerely that 110 011e has done more tha11 tl1e present Premier and the 'fruit of his labor is daily more and more app 'arent. I am glad to see that the tele­ graph system is about to be exten­ ded, and I fully recognize · what this means to 'the ·people of St.

Barbe and those who freque11t the ·Labra-, dor, but I hope tl1e Go\rer11ment vvill recog11ize that there are 3, 000 voters in Place11tia Bay witl1out any telegrapl1 co1nmunication at tl1e present time, and I hope they v\TOn 't be forgotte11. I an1 glacl that tl1e Governme11 t is at last in a · position to introduce t11e long desired Old ... i\ge Pe11sions.

It is only such o us as 11a ve 11ad occasion to \risit the outports of t11is cour1try and tneet tl1e aged, i11firm and decrepit fisher­ me11 of 70 and 80 years of age, vvho have spent their lives toili11g on the \Vater~~ tl1at ca11 appreciate \vhat tl1is \vill 111ea11 to them. \:Vhile they are young ai1d can worl~ they ca.n support themselves, but \Vhen having spe11t 40 or 50 years braving the perils of the sea, toiling to earn a bare livi11g, they come to t11e age vvhen tl1ey are no longer able to vvork, and \vhen they see them­ selves (as I 11a\'e seen the111) old, .. grey headecl and infir1n, vvith their families scattered or with their ovvn respo11sibilities of ho1ne, which tax:. them to the utmost-vvhen we re ... . cognize this, vve ca11not but fee wl1at a necessity and wl1at a be11efit these old age pensions will be to ~·h tl1ose people '. 1·'.Ir.

Speake1·, if the other work of the Govern1nent sl1ovvs that it 11as a head surely this old

HO"lISE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS. 29 age perision provision sho\VS that it has a heart also. Mr. Speaker, I do not propose to occupy the time of the House very much longer, but I should like to make one reference to the exhibi­ tions ,vhich were held in . this city Jast year. Both the Manufacturers' and the Agricultural Exhibitions \vere revelations as to what can be done and produced in this country.

I had the pleasure of visiting the Cape Bret® Provincial Exhibition the week previous i11 company \vi th some frie11ds, and althougl1 Cape Breton has for years been an agri­ ct1ltural country, yet there vvas not a disse11ting .. voice ainong us in pro­ nouncing . that our exhibitio11 vvas far ahead of that of Cape Breto11. Tl1e n1anufacturers' Exhibition \Vas certai111y. ai1 eye opera.er to our people, and goes to sl1ow what · really can be done if vve go about it tl1e right way.

Tl1e Agricttltu 1· al Exl1ibition, \vl1ile far short of wl1at it might and ought to 11a ve been, \Vas certainly a11 excellent one, sli_ovving t11at \Ve are on the t11resl1old of agricultural ·development. It is hoped that vvi th care and atte11tion these brar1ches of industry \Vill develop to a much larger scale. At present almost ever) 1tl1ing we produce requires Government assistance, but I sl1ould like to see the day when they will be carried on free of the Govern­ ment aid. There is too much de­ pendin .g .upon tl1e Go1lernment for · e\rerytl1ing and the sooner we get a vvay from this the better.

It \i\irill come wirh the spread of educ .ation, but until then we shall never be free from what I cannot help look- -ing upon as a retarding element in our development. I have much pleasure in seco11ding the motion for a Committee to draft the Ad­ dress it1 Reply.

SIR ROBERT BOND In deal­ ing with the Address delivered by His Excellency the Governor this afternoon, I shall 11ot attempt at this late hour, to trespass unneces­ sarily upon tl1e patience of the House, and as all matters of irnr)or­ tance referred to by His Excellency will be prese11ted for discussio11 in , son-ie other form during the present session, I shall confine my re1nar1-{s to the higl1ly interesting and 111ost ir11portant subject to -vvhich tl1e second paragraph of His Excel­ lency's Speecli. directs our atte11- tion, namel)r, t11e recent Ai\rards of tl-ie Hague Tribu11al.

I am g·lad to sa v that those \V ho sit 011 the Oppositio11 side of the House are able to unite witl1 I-Iis Excelle11c)r the Governor and tl1ose vvho sit op­ posite us in tl1is House, in an ex­ pression of satisfaction at the result of the Colon\r's reference to tl1e - Hague, but I regret that our ex­ pression of satisfaction can11ot be as full and complete as we could desire. \Ve 11a ve to regard tl1e de­ cision as a compromise of course, but still such a compromise as vve think should establish peace vvitl1 honor. The disti11guisl1ed gentle­ man, Dr.

Lam111asch, vvho presided o\rer the I-I ag11e Tri1Jt1nal, i11 l1is •

• HOUSE OF .t-\..SSElVIBLY PROCEEDIKGS. openi11g address to the Court, said that matters of great importance 11ad been adjusted by the Tribunal \vithi11 tl1e past ten years, some of them i11vol\ring the 1nost delicate questions of so,rereignity and 11a- , tio11al pride, all itnplicati11g ii1tri­ cate problems of it1ternational law.

But perhaps never till now had tl1ere been entrusted to at1 arbitral a question of such gra\rit)r ai1d of · so complex a nature ; that during more tl1an t1inety years tl1e ques­ tions implicated it1 the case before them had bee11 the subject of almost uni11terrupted diplomatic correspo11- dence and tra11saction, and more tha11 once had brought England ai1d the United States of .... i\merica I . to t11e verge of vvar. That was not at1 exag·gerated statement, it -vvas literally true.

In the year 1897 t11e tension in respect to the issues that have bee11 dealt with by the Hague was so severe that one of t11e lead­ ing I--to11don papers, The Sta1idard, alleged that ''His Majesty's Go\·­ ernment had believed it necessary to take into consideration the co11- tingency of vvar -vvith the United States of Ai11erica ii1 the advent of 110 settlement being reached.'' I \Vas in England carr) ring on nego­ tiations with His I\1ajesty's Gov­ ernment relative to the dispute when this staten1e11t appeared, and on 1Jeing questioned by Renter's repre­ sentative about the san1e, I replied : ''\Var vvitl1 the United States is out of the question.

It would be the calamity of the ages.

Self­ respect is the surest road to peace, • and no country appreciates sel respect n1ore tha11 tl1e Unitecl Stat of J\1neric a or regards the peopl -vv110 sacrifice it vvitl1 inore co tempt." I fully appreciated th gravit) r of the situatio11 but i11 letter addressed to I~ord Elgin, Se retary of State for the Colonies, few dajrs previous to this, I l1a sug·gested a reference of all que tions in dispute to tl1e Hague Tri bunal, at1d I vvas. hopeful that al 1)arties concerned vvould agree t the proposal, and it was tl1us m high privilege to lay the first sto11 in this structure of peace, whicl1, it is to be sincerely hoped, l1as bee fir1nl)r established by the decisio11 of the Hague Tribunal.

I haven desire, Sir, I l1a ve t10 intention to unnecessarily revert to the past. But in order to fur11ish a reason for our measure of satisfaction at tl1e decision an11ounced at the Hague, it is necessary to co11sider the issues that \Vere involved ir1 the reference to that Court ; the attitude of this Colony ir1 respect to the same, arid in how far the Colony has been sustained in her attitude.

It was not a mere question of the tal{.ing or purchasing of a few herring tl1at \i\ras ii1volved, it was 011e of juris­ diction and sovereignit) 1-the juris­ diction of the Government of this Colony in the carrying out of its municipal laws, and the sovereig­ nity ··of Great Britain in and over the Colo11y and its territorial waters. The position set 11p by the Gov­ ern1nen t of the United States of America may be briefly stated as

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCJ:i~ EDINGS. 31 follovvs : 1st-Th at the fisl1ery la\VS of thi s Colony are not bincling upo11 Unit ed States fisl1er1nen in tl1e e:xer­ cise of their rights uncler the Treat) r of 1 818.

N 0 -vv ii1 respec t to tl1eir positio11, the attitude of the lat.e Governme11t, of vvhich I had the honor to be Pri 111e 1\1inister, vvas that tl1e liberty to tal{e fish -vvhich tl1e inl1abitants of the United States have forever und er tl1e Tre aty of 1818, in com- 1non 1vith the subjects of Great Brita in, is subject to all .r.easonab1e re aulation or laws made by N e\V- b foun dland for the protection of the fishe ries, prov ided always that such regu lations or laws are equitable or fair as betw een our local fisher- 1nen and the inhabitants of the l Tnit ed States.

The I-Iag·ue Tribu­ nal h as uph eld the Colony in this conte ntion. It has declared that the rigl1t to make such regulations witho ut the consent of. the United State s and to impr.ove them, is in­ here nt to the sovereignity of Great Brit ain and that if the United States conte sts the r·easonable11ess of any such regulat ions or laws, the rea­ sona bleness must be decided by an impar tial commission of experts. .

If the Hag ue Tribunal itself l1ad, as might reasonably have been ex­ pecte d it would have, passed upon tl1e existin g regulations and laws, the reaso nableness of which have been contes ted by the United States . ' and had ordered tl1at a commission of experts must deal with all future regu latio ns before they can come in force, · provided the United States co11.tests tl1eir reasonableness, then I subn1it there could be no room for cavil or complaj.nt on either side.

But that rules at1d reg·ula­ tions ·approved by the Legislature for the preservation at1d continu­ a11ce of the fisheries la vvs under which both American and New­ foundland fisl1ermen ha\re in com ­ mon co11ducted their fishi11g busi- 11ess advantageously, harmoniously and vvithout question or protest for a quarter of a centur y or more , should now at the instance of the United States be suspended, pend ­ ing the report of ai1 American and Dutcl1 expert, is hardl~r tl1at justice to peace that mig·l1t reasonably have been expected from s11ch an august Tribunal.

Granting that fro111 the Treaty of 1818 ''there results an obliga­ tory relation whereby the right of Great Britain to exercise its rigl1ts of sovereig11it~' by making regu1a­ tions is limited to s11ch regulatio11s as are n1ade in good fa1tl1 and are not in violation of the Treat~.r , and that the reasonableness of a regt1- lation is a q uestio11 to be decided · by an i111partial authority,'' it does not seen1 contrary to con1111011 sense and reason that laws that l1ave been in existence for years, opera­ ting for the go9d of all parties con­ cerned, as experience has de1non­ strated, shot1ld now be subject to such a test as proposed.

The con­ cession to the United States is all the more ren1arkable i11 'fliew of the rerdarks · of tl1e Pres·ide11t of the Hague Tribunal duri11g· tl1e l1ear-

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS. ing of the Colony's case. He said that ''if the concurrence of the tJ nited States is necessary to the enforcerr1ent of the fishing regula­ tiotJS of N ewfot1ndland, the logical ded11ctio11 and consequence would be that the United States sl1ared the Sovereignity. '' Of course tl1e comple .te sovereignity of Great Britain in and over the Island and its territorial waters has been ad­ mitted by the Award.

It is also remarkable inasmuch as it seems to violate a doctrine of international law recognized and enforced ·by the United States, namely: ''That aliens while vvith­ in the jurisdiction of the 1.J nited States and enjoying tl1e protection of its laws must be obedient to them equally as citizens of the l,T11ited States are.'' Tl1is is laid · down in 11oore's Digest of International La\v at1c1 t11e British International La-vv, as defined by Philimore, concurs in the doctrine by stating that 'every individual on entering a foreign .. country binds himself by tacit con- tract to obeys it laws.'' Howe,rer,.

I have shown where the Hague . Tribunal left us, but that is not where we stand to-day. I will cleal witl1 tl1e latter aspect presently. 2nd-The Government of the United States contended that the inhabitants of that country had a right to emp10) 7 Newfoundland fisher1nen while exercising the liber­ ties conferred upon them by the Treaty of . 1818 in defiance of the laws of this country.

The position taken b)r the l Govern1nent was that we had perfect right under the ,}aw to s to our own citizens : ''You sh not take service upon Americ fishing vessels exercising liberti under the Treaty of 1818, '' and prevent them from so doing. this position the Colony also h been upheld by the Hague Tri bun for it has been decided that whi non-i11habitants of the United Stat ma}r be engaged as members of fishing crew, such non-inhabitan derive 110 immunity from the Trea of 181S.

In other words, the e gagement of Newfoundlanders b American skippers does not prote these Newfoundlanders from t penalty attaching to a breach our law \vhen it sa).,.S: ','Tho shalt not engage in tl1e exportatio of bait fishes in .. ..t\merican bottoms.' This is entirely satisfactory. 3rd.-The . Government of th United States contended tl1at Ameri can fishing vessels \Vere not boun to enter or report at our CuRto I Houses.

The position take11 by the lat Government of this Colo11y tVas t4at American fishing vessels entering ports of this Colony must report to Custom House or become subject t the penalty provided for a breach of our Customs la\V. The Hague Tribunal has upheld the Colony in this contention, for it has decided that the requirement that an Ameri­ can fishing vessel should report, if proper convenie11ces for doing sq

lIOUSit OF .\SSl.lVIBLY PROCEEDINGS are at hand is not t1nreasonable. This is en ti rely sa ti sf actor;r. 4th. The Go\1ern1nent of t11e­ l ... nited States contended t11at Ameri­ catl fisl1i11g vessels ei1tering the harbours of the Treat)r Coast vvere not liable for ligl1t dues. The position take11 by tl1e late Go\"ernn1en t vvas that as tl1e 1 ig-ht­ I1ouses vvere built and are main­ tained ot1t of the taxes contributed by the fisher1ne11 of t11is Colon)r, it ,vas not unreasonable to dem_and light dues from Atnerican :fisl1ing vessels deriving benefit from these lighthouses.

The decision of the Hague Tri­ bunal that the exercising of the fishing liberty by the inhabita11ts of the United States should not be sub­ ject to ligl1t dues not i111posed upon Newfoundland :fishermen. The an­ nual cost of mai11tena11ce of the ligl1tl1ouse system is forty-five thou­ sa11d dollars, "\vhich amount is very largely contributed by the fisherme11 of the Colony.

The Atnerican fisherman l1ave the benefit of these ligl1thouses, a11d it therefore ca11 scarcely be regar­ ded as satisfactor)r that the a vvard sl1ould have exempted there from contributing to t11e upkeep of that \Vhich is -for the common benefit of the fisl1erme11 of the Treaty Coast. It is of course correct that lig·ht dues are not imposed directly upo11 the N evvfoundland fisherlllen, but they are taxed it1directly for this light service. So ·that is · 011ly a question of expediency . of Regula­ ting the tax, and under the award E of the Hague Tribunal, ...

L\111erican fisher1ne11 may be liable for light­ house dues. 5th. Tl1e l!Tnited States Govern­ me11t con tended that Atnerican \ressels resorting to the Treaty Coast for the . purpose of exercisi11g the liberty gra11ted tinder the Treat:l of 1818 VF ere en titled to l1a \re t11e com1nercial privileges of bujring· bai't fro111 the fisl1er111er1 of N e'\vfou11d­ la11d.

Tl1e posi tio11 taken 1J)7 tl1e late Governme11t of the Colon) 7 vvas, that tl1e Treaty of 1818 clid 11ot confer any commercial privileges 011 tl1e citizens of the United States · and tb at they have 110 rigl1t to bu yr bait \vitho11t the direct sa11ctior1 of the (}overnme11t of tl1is Colo11 '\1. T11e _, Hague Tribunal has up11e1cl tl1e Colony in this co11tention, for it was decided that American vessels a;. t11e same time and during the sa1ne -voy~age exercise their Treaty rights and ei1joy co1nmercial pri\rileg·es even assu1ning they vvere accorded ' by some other agreeme11t.

This is entirely satisfactory, and coupled with the decision 2, leaves u·s com­ plete masters of the situation so far as the sale and purchase of bait fishes is concerned. 6th. T11e United States co11- te11ded t11at under the Treaty of ' 1818 Atnerican fishermen were granted the privilege of fishing in the bays, harbors at1d ~re~ks be . tvveen Cape Ray and Quirpo " Islands. The position taken by the late Government was that no sttch right ,

34 HOUSE OF .i-'\.SSE~1BLY PROCEEDINGS. or privilege had been gra11ted, at1d that Atnerican citizens \Vere by special phraseology co11fined to tl1e coast fishery bet\veen tl1ese points. It will be remembered that \vhen I put forward this position ii1 this House in 1906, I dated that I believed it vvas the first tim,e that tl1e poi11 t 11ad been raised.

I vvas ' not the11 unrnindft1l of the fact that Great Britain hacl ·never ta1~et1 ex­ ceptio11 to tl1e exercise of this pri­ vilege by American fishermen, that N evvfou11dland 11ad never cione so, but ,5n t11e contrary I knew tl1at she had taken the very opposite position before the Halifax Com­ mission in 1878.

But sir, I still believe that under a strict itJ.ter­ pertation of the Treaty of 1818, · ... l\.merica11 fishermen 1nust be ex­ cluded from the inshore fishery be­ 'vee11 Cape Ray and Quirpon for I was aware that very l1igh a utho­ rities on Internatio11al Law ha \le held that 111ere ' custom', or ' prac­ tice ' g·roV\ri11g up under a Treaty cot1ld not set aside \vhat was clearly the inte11tion of t11e vvorli.ing of the Treaty. The decision of the Hague Tri­ bunal has been against the Colon)r on the point and of course -vve grace­ fully bow to the decision arid ho11or­ ably accpt it.

It is exceedi11gly gratifying to me and fB my late colleagues in the Government of the Colony to find that Lorcl Rob- • son His Majesty's Atto .rney Ger1eral used this language in deali11g -vvith this pciint, namely 1 my difiicult:l about '' question 6, and I 111igl1t ''just as \Vell be fra11k to t11e su ''sequent conduct of Great I3rit ai1 '' 11er co11duct at Ha1ifax, 112r cot ''duct in various otl1er \Va):s. ']~ 11 ''is my difficulty about c1uestio11 ''my difficult;r is not on the con '' struction of the 'rreat\r.

I tl1i11 _, '' tl1at on a strict constru ·:tio11 of tl1 ' ' 1-./. 1 reaty t 1e balance of 111y arg u '' me11t is strongly in fa V()r of lll ' ' case on que:stio11 6. l~~rom \V l1 a '' lS tl1e aTgUfile11t tO \\1)1iCh th e '' 11a ve co1r1e? Coast of N e\v foun d '' la11cl, Coasts a11d Bays of Labr a '' dor, ar1d for dr5ring and cL1ring i '' bays of a particular coast of N e\v '' fou11dland, nan1ely, t11e southe r '' portio11 from Cape Ray to th '' Ramea Islands. But not a wor ''said about :fisl1ing in ba)rs on tl1 '' soutl1ern or -vvester11 coast of N·e\v '' foundlc1nd.

It vvas not g·i ven a n "' it vvas 11ot r·enounced. Now tl1is ' ' h 1 . w o e argume11t 1s ar1 argume nt '' wl1icl1 I submit would stand good 4 < and would be ·very difficult for ~' tl1e U11ited States to meet 11nder i.' ordinary rules of constructio11 b ut ~·for the fact tl1at '\Ve 11ave not '~ 1nai11tained tl}e claim. I have to ''face tl1at fact Vv"e have not main­ '' tained tl1e clain1. \Vh)r have vve ''not maintained the claim? We '' have not asserted it bee a use rea lly '' it was a matter of so little interes t. '' Tl1ese really had not bee11 fishi ng '' there.

I arr1 :figl1ting for the1n '' novv to mai11tain the jurisdict ion '· of Great Britain. The Uni ted ·'States are fighting in order to '' break or to oust the jurisdicti on '' of Great Britain. Sir Rob ert

• HOV-SE OF .!\.SSEMBLY PI~OCEEDINGS. 35 '' Bo11d to -vvhom the , questio11 was '' 1·n1 uorta1it u11dcJubtedly raised the .i ,_ '' poi11t \vl1en tl1e co11tro\rersy be- ' ' ca111e acL1te a11d both times 11e had '' to face the fac t t11a t in the mean - '' ti 1ne there h ad bee11 n1a11y ad­ ,, 1n issions.

I s ay tl1at t11ere are '' tl1ose a.dn1iss io11s and tl1-e}r do riot ' ' reall:v affect the subste:111ce or the •' r11erittS of tl1e argument 11pon ' ' tl1e qu.estiot 1 of t11e constructio11. '' 'fl1ese extracts fron-i Lord I<-ob­ son 's adclres s i11clicate that tl1is Claim on behalf of t11e Colon: l \v as 11either frivolous r1or \rexa­ tious at1d tl1at i11 11is opinio11 under a strict i11 terp retatio11 of tl1e treaty of 1818 v\Te sl1ovved l1a ve bee11 upl1eld . • Sir, I co11ld wisli. that we had been t1pheld for if V\Te hacl been tl1e 1,vl1ole of our fishe r)r troubles vvould l1a ve t)een ende d fore\rer.

But seeing t~1a t \Ve 11a ve not. I still repeat \'Ve n1ust 11011orably accept tl1e Avvard. .:\s I hav e sl1ovvn the Colon ,y has prac tically \von ev'"ery poi1i.t sa\re tl1e sixt h. T here was a seve11th ques­ tio11 st1bmitted to the Hao·ue Tri-b bun al le11t as it vvas 011e in -vvhich the Domi 11ion of Canada vvas pri­ mar ily interested, and it \Vas put for\vard at l1er it1sta11ce I Ii.ave 1)assed it over. It is questio11 f1,.re in tl1e submission. \Vl1en 111ust he measure the tl1ree marine n1iles of ar1;r of the coasts, ba)TS, creel{s or harbors referred to i11

article No. 1 of theTre atyof 18.18. V\Te claimed .th at tl1e re11unciation applies to all bays generall; r. • - The l Tnited States contended that it applies to bays o_f a certain class or condition. Suffice it to sav that . . - the Hague .Tribunal upheld our con- ten ti 011.

Through the courtes;r of tl1e Honourable Minister of Justice I l1a ve been privileg·ed to read the whole of the oral argnn1ent in this submission and I would be remiss in 1ny dut;r if I did 11ot 01· if I failed · to express my se11se of the obliga­ tion tl1at tl1e Colo11y is under to His l\1Iajesty' s Gover11n1ent, His ~1a­ jest) r's attor11ey George I..-orcl llob­ son at1d to Sir Robert I:findla,y in the 1natter of the conduct of o{ir case.

No trutl1f ul perso11 can pe­ ruse those volumes without tecog­ nizing tl1e immense research t11at was necessary to sift documentary evide11ce tl1at ran back as far as the seve~tee11tl1 centur}r.

T11is could 11ot 11a ve been forthcon1in o· but for ob . the i11 terest take11 in ou1- case l)y His }/Iajesty's Government ; no in­ tellige11t perso11 ca11 peruse tl1e ar­ gun1ents of Lord Rob son and Sir Ro1)ert Findlay without being· struck vvitl1 the clearness of thouo-ht - ac·- . b ' curac:s r of discri1ni nation at1d strengtl1 of rea.so11ing or fail t o acl- 1nire tl1e ardor and ti1e eloquence by vv 11ic h tl1ey gave tl1ese traits their 11igl1est effect.

Probabl.)r 110 inter­ natio1 1al question has callecl forth a greater display of it1tellectu _al abi­ lity tl1a11 tl1is North .i\merica11 ' Fishery vvithin tl1e past ninety years, but I doubt sir, if in t11e vvhole l1is­ tory of the case there will be found more beautiful specim~ns of .dialec­ tical abilit}r than that ir1 . the a rgu- •

• • • IIOUSE OF ASSE1\1BLY PROCEEDINGS. 1rtents of Lord Robso11 Sir Robert Findlay and Senator Root. I re­ IJea t, sir, Y\re lie t111der the deepest obligatio11s to His ~1ajesty's Gov­ ern1ne11t, to Lord Robso11 and to Sir Robert Fi11dlay for t11e victory \Ve ha \'e wo11 at t11e Hague. Let 11s 11old \vhat \Ve have \Von as a lever to l)e used i11 t11e interests of tl1e fisherme11 of th·is colotl)T; let us not be cajoled on t11e one 11a11d or me11aced 011 the other ir1to a relin­ quish1nent of the rigl1ts and po\vers tl1at 11a ve 11ot been placed beyo11cl questio11s in the Hague Tribunal or .... L\. ward.

I must use the word me­ nace just novv because i11 reading tl1e argurnent of one of tl1e United States Cou11sel a 11r. Elder, I 110- ticed an inti111ation tl1at if the I-I'ague 'l~ribu11al decided a,gai11st tl1e con­ tention of the Ur1ited States, re­ specting tl1e purchase of herring, ai1d N e\vfoundla11d still refl1ses to g·rant the privilege, tl1e U 11ited States \\rould take the sa1ne course not ex­ I)lained to compel N e\vfou11dland to accede to the demand. A most • astoundi11g statement before a Peace Co1n1nissio11 truly at1d Lord Robson tl1at it pern1it it to pass without co1nn1ent.

Lord Robson i11 ad­ dresi11g the Court said 11r.

Elder intimated \Yery clearly tl1at '' if 11ot­ \\ritl1standing sucl1 a finding as he '' aslzed Newfound 1 an d still re­ i' fused to grant the privileges then '' the United States vvould have to '' consider w 11 at 1n easures they •' vvould take whicl1 \Vas language· ''of course n1oderatelv and cau-- '' tiousljr expre s s e d but nobody '' could fail to detect a a tone \Vl1ic '' \Vas not u11like a me11ace to New '' foundland.'' T11e 011ly consider at i o 11 th a sl1ould be given to tl1is threat o inenace is this that it ii1dicates n1os unmistakeably \Vhat im1nense valo the Americans place upo11 the pri vileges of purchasing supplies o herrir1g in our waters ; it ir1dica te the truth of tl1at whicl1 I have bee contendi11g for years namel)T tl1a barri11g tl1e right of our fisl1er1ne11 t catcli. for them, and tl1e rig11t to b11 fish from our people, the Nev\r Eng 1a11d herring· fisl1e1·y 011 our coast m11st be abando11ecl, why?

Be ca use it will not pay to bri11g th necessary crevve a n d eq ui pn1.en from Gloucester. Now as reg·ar ds 011r Fishery Rules arid I{egulation s. Tl1e co11tentio11 of the U 11ited Sta tes that they are unreasonalJle is but a flurry t11at is stirred up in order to 11icle the real griev a11ce.

Tl1ese fisl1et)T Rules and Regt1lations 11a ve been in force for years 011 the Trea ty Coast but we never l1eard a com­ plai11t respecting them from tl1e United States until a fevv years ago vvhen \Ve said to tl1e Governme11t of tl1at country : '' You promised N evv­ foundland a free n1arket in the United Sta~es for its fishery pro­ ducts in exc11ange for trading· pri~ vileges you are now enjoyi11g ; we l1a \re , waited · fiftee11 years for the fulfilment of tl1at promise, henc e­ fortl1 vve sl1all confine )TOU to you r fishing privileges under the Trea ty of 1818 . u11til your privilege is re­ deemed.'' 1 t vvas tl1en and 11ot til l •

, I-IOUSE OF i\ SSEJ\ IBI'"' Y PROC:B~EDINGS. 37 that co1np1ai11t was made res pect­ . 1 a- our fishery rules an d reg-ula tions. 11 ~ I ask you to note, sir, that under the operatio11 of tl1e rules and regu­ latio11s of whicl1 co1nplai11t is 11ow 1n ade by the Un ited Sta tes their fishing vessels ob tained all tl1e fisl1 the y required 0 11 the Treaty Coast durir1g t11e years and years tl1at l1ave pa ssed.

If our fishermen could a11d vvould supply all the wants of the Gloucester fisl1ing fleet througl1 all tl1 ese years and under these reg1Jla­ tio11s -vvhy ca11not American fisl1er­ men supply tl1emsel \res un der the 11evv regula tio ns? If tl1ese rules \vere g·ood for our fisherm en , ho\:v can tl1ey be bad for American fisher­ men. If they did not han1per our fisl1erme11 in the cor1duct of tl1e busi­ ness, how can they 11amper Pl..1neri­ can fisher men ?

Of course the con - tention of the United States Govert1- ment amoun ts to an absurd ity u11- less it is ad1n i tted by them _ that it \vill not pay'" their fisher1nen to bring large cre \vs at1d necessarily large outfit of fishing gear from Glouces­ ter to pro secute the fishery as it l1as been con ducted for a quar rer of a century or 1nore.

If this is ad­ mitted and that t11eir only possible cl1a11ce of mal{:ing the voyage pay is by using purse seines , thus re­ ducing the labor and the cost of the outfit ; our ansvver sl1ould be clear and emphatic namely-'' You have destroy ed your own fishery by tl1e use of purse sei11es and the Canadia11 fisl1eries in certain localities were well n ig·h depleted by the same ' ' means.

You shall not destroy ours if we ca11 prevent you.'' Under tl1e Award of tlie Hague Tribttnal tl1is dispute as to the use of purse seines and as to the other prohibitio11s was to be referred as I have already stated to a special Co111mission of experts to consist of an America11, a Dutchman and a Britisher. !11 the eve11t of our re­ presentation not agreeing with the other tvvo, there was left to us a11 appeal to the H?-gue Tribunal for a fi.nali zatio11 of the dispute.

But novv if I understand aright the Govern- 1nent has deprived the colony of this right of ~ppeal by entering into a special agreement witl1 the authori­ ties at \Vasl1ington to s11bstitut e an­ other tribunal in w 11ich the deci sion of tl1e America11 and Dutchman \\rill be final. This I think was a most unfortunate blu11der, no dou b t it \:Vill be said in the extenuation tl1at it will be done to a void tl1e large ex­ pense · of another appeal to the Hague.

My answer is that all tl1e moneyr so far expe11ded will be so n1uch tl1rown a vvay if \Ve lose this reference and that our safety lies in appealing to a, court constituted as was the Hague Tribunal. Was this return to the Hague or to a special con1mission on the subject of regu­ lations the n1enace implied in the words of the Atnerican Coun sel to which I have referred? Prob ably because he dwelt \vitl1 more · force than justice upon the poverty of our people. He ma) ... have reasoned thus in his mind, a further reference to the Hag·ue on a special commis- • '

,., 8 ,) HOUSE OF r'\..SS£f,IBLY I'ROCEEDINGS . sion means 11ot 11 i n g fi11ar1ciall:;1 speaking to a g·reat ar1cl \Vealt11=~r , t1atio11 as TJ nit e d St <:1 t. es b 11 t it \'Vi 11 mean n1uch to an i11sig11i:fic~11t, • 1 '"' 1 . I poverty-str1c 1-: ei1 col1n tr}r. l 11s say 1nay l1a \re 1Jeen tl1e tl1ought tl1a t fou11d expressio11 i11 t11e n1e11ace to \v~l1icl1 Lord Ilobso11 took exceptior1.

It is to be greatl)T der)lored tl1at dur­ ir1g- tl1e 1Jitter party controvers:,r over the late Go\1ernrne11t's policy in the 1natter of the 11erri11g fisl1ery so much vvas said arid -vvrittP11 as to tl1e 1Jo\rerty of tl1e people 011 the \\Test Coast at1d of tl1eir depe11da11ce u f)Oll the American fisl1ing- i9.eet, for a li \~elil1ood. 1'o this 111ust be at­ tri 1Juted t11e ideas of po\' ,erty ancl of i11differe11ce of our people to tl1e f;·reat issues tl1a t \~rere before tl1e 1-1ague TritJu11al, ideas \\'l1icl1 u11- doubtedly influer1ced tl1e arg-un1euts a11cl attitude of tl1e 1J nited States (~over111nen t in relatio11 ·to N e\v­ f o u r1d1 ~111 d , I a n1 1 e d to this c~ o 11c1 u - sio11, sir, fro111 a perusal of docu- 111e11ts laid before tl1e I-Iague 1~ri­ bu11al ar1d of tl1e argut11e11ts of the ... ;..meric an Co11 sul. .i\.rticles t11a t a rJpeared in tl1e .

Westc1~n Star arid AlJai£1/ News and copies of tl1e peti­ tior1s tl1at were gotten up b:Yr the C)pponents of the late (~over11me11t \'Vere p11t in e\1idence before t11e ,.fribunal ancl arg·uments exte11di11g o\:er clays -vvere based on tl1em thus sho\\Ting- the importance that -vvas attacl1ed to tl1ose uttera11ces. l\1ark, I do not say,. that these party utte­ rances influenced tl1e arbitrators in . their decision. I do not say so be- cause I ca1111ot prove it.

But I do sa:'/ that they -vvere used byT 1\111e ca,11 cot111sel for tl1e purpose of i fluenci11g the arl)itra t rs ~1nd I a 11ot at all certain that t11ey did 11 1:1inirr1ize i11 tl1e eves of tb.e arb itr tcrs tl1e i1npnrtance of a decisio n them in respect to tl1e reaso11 '.l bl lleSS Of existin CY f1slli110-recrula ti 011 ;_--., b b 'I~l1e~>1 111igl1t well 11a ve reasoned t point in this '-"'a)r : '' V\rell if it is tr tl1e people 011 the "freaty Coast a so 1)overt)'~ stricl{~11 t11a t the clolla left b:l An1ericar1 skippers is aver table C~odsend to them, if it is tr tl1ey v1ct11t no ir1terferer1ce '\7 11atev V\ritl1 i\.merica11s 011 tl1at coast, if true tl1at the ~Tl1ole electorate of t ...

Colony is opposed to a11)T sucl1 in terfere·nce ancl turned the late G ov er111ne11t out of power \vhei1 a pealed to 011 tl1e question ; if tl1is b true and it 11as 11ot bee11 de11ied b N e\\-foundland or any other Britis Co1111sel wb.v sl1ould \Ve deal \Vit _,, tl1e question? No question as regards reg ula tior1s 1nay 11ereafter arise, we wil tl1erefore exercise tl1e discre tio give11 u11der

article III of the term of refere11ce and malze IJrovision fa a special comtnission iii case it i required. '' It is exactly vvl1at .th I-!ague ,.fribu11al did and tl1e col on is no\V co11 fronted vvi th ai1other re-. ference of a capituatio11 to tl1 Americans. I have read ir1 tl1a matchless book of truth and wisd o '' The "ray of tl1e transgresso r i . . hard.'' Ho\v a t)undantly has t11is -1ieen verified in the case of my polit ical opponents. Tl1e 0111y Newfou nd-

- HOUSE OF i\.SSE11BLY PROCEE11INGS. lan d Counsel tl1~-i t addressed the 1-I a o·ue ,,:ras my estee111ed frie11cl Sir b , Jalnes \'li 11 ter ancl .l1 e v~~as met ti? America11 Co11nsel 1n this \Va)' : 011 tl1 at 111)r er121ny \vo uld g·rant an in­ ter,Tie\V a·i1d l1e proc eecled to read to tlie court ail i1 1 t er v ie\~1 that Sir J a111es had giver 1 a . represe~tati \~e of tl1e Lo11clor1 ;1-fo Fnz rl~f P,Jsl. t l1r2-e or four )7 ears ag·o , i11 \vhich he str o 11 gl~l upl1elcl tl1e l\.111erica11 posi­ tion ~1 nd co11d em 11ecl the fisher)' pol i c~r of thf~ 1 a te Gover111ne11 t.

It ·vvi11 he percei\:re c1, then, 110\V seri ously hand ic a, pped \\T as t 11 e Co1011y b)r thes e party political ut­ tera1 1ces. I have 110 clo11bt the Govern111ent of tl1e Colony \Vas hanclicapped it1 its recei1t negotia­ tions at \\T asl1in gto11 fro1n the san1e cau se. Tl1e U nited States 1night ha.ve said to t11e1n : '' \Vh)1 should v·ve recede from our posi tio11 as re­ gard s )·our re gu1 a tions. y ot1 are the men "'\vho denounced the late Governn1ent for interfering with us.

It ~~vas your party orga11s that de­ clare d that the people on the vVest Coa st -vv·ould st arve vvere it not for the gold left atno11gst the1n by 1\_n1erican sl1ippers. Did }rou not admit to them , tl1rougl1 tl1e lips of His 1\1ajesty's Attorney General, I_, ord Robso n , that t11e late Gover11- • 1nent \Vere defeated at the polls upon tl1is fish ery question?

If this vvas not tru e then y-rou have greatly decei ved us a 11d vve have nothing more to do vvitl1 )7 0U, and if all that you have alleg·ed is true t11en vve defy yo u to withhold the privileges we dem a11d, for )Tour mandate is not to ii1terfere in a11j 1 \'Tav \Vitl1 .._i\1nerican fisl1erme11. '' This, of course, is a ver)r a -vvk­ vvard lJosition for t11e Gover11m 'ent to fincl the1nsel\ res in ancl it it1di-• cates ho\V importa11t it is \\7 he11 deali11g \vitl1 great inter11[!-tio11al questions for the Co1ony to · pre sent a soli cl front un broke11 l))"' petty p~rt~'l squabbli11g· a11d jealous~-' .

I tr11st, sir, · tr1c:tt t11ere v\ri11 be no C. iff ere11ce of {)p i11ic)n as to t11e course t11e Colo11y sl1ou1d aclopt in the p:-esent i11sta11ce. So far as' I am a vvare tl1e 0111y questio11 at issue betvvee r1 tl1e United States a11cl N evv­ four1dlancl to-day is as to the pro- 11ibitio11 of St111day fishing· and purse seines. Tl1e ur1reaso11able at­ titude of t11e United States in res- 1)ect to that prol1ibition is made apparent by the acquiesce11ce of tl1e Government of the 1Jnited States -vvithin tli_e past fortnigl1t in a pre­ cisely sin1ilar prohibition in Cana--- clian \V aters.

On the nineteentl1 da)r of Jan uar; r the Canadian l\1i11is­ ter of · Justice i11 annou11cing the result of the recently concluded fishery negotiatio11s at Washington said, '' There l1as been little diffi­ culty in convincing tl1e represe11ta­ ti\res of the U11itecl States that there is 11othing unduly burdensome it1 our fishery regulations at1d their objection to the prohibition of Sun­ day fishi11g and purse sei11es has been \Vithdra \Vn.'' N ovv if this Colony has failed \Vhere Canada has succeeded then, I submit, there must be something defective in our diplomacy or the •

• 4() HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS. set policy of the United States is to try ai1d drive the Colony into ac­ quiescence witl1 her demands by the '' me11ace '' of further expen­ sive litigation. \Ve should resist this attitude whatever the cost may be. Those who sit opposite me in this House are at present the public trt1stees ; the people have confided their rights and interests to their keeping. It is not for ~ne to pre­ sume to for1nula te a policy for the Government, but, sir, I am here to express an opinion as to vvhat I believe the Government should do in the interests of the public.

Now tl1en the immense value of the herring- :fishery to the ft~meri­ cans has been ' ma9-e patent by all that has transpired between tl1e United States and Newfoundland since 1908.

If t11is herring trade is so profitable to Americans that they can come more than eight hundred miles to prosecute it, why should t11e industry not be profitable to our own people who have the fisher)r at their very doors? vVhy because the United States authorities have placed a prohibitive tariff barrier against the entry of fish caught by Newfoundlanders ii1to American markets in order to secure a mono­ poly of the trade for her own citi- . zens. Recognizing this, w h at should be our course of action ?

A few years ago vve might well have paused before arriving at a deci­ sion ; we were awaiting patiently for the fulfilment of America's pledge of a for a free market in '· exchange for the privileges we have so freely accorded her fisherm But novv there should be no hesi tio11 as to our course of acti We should assist our people in g ting over t11e tariff barrier by gra ing them a bounty on tl1.e exp of 11erring to America i11 vess owned and registered 1n this cou try, a bounty tl-1at would do m tl1an off-set t11e America11 cluty, th would enable our :fishermen to o tain vessels suitable for that trad s .. )111e 011e 111 ay a rgt1e, • • If tl1 \Vere cl o 1 le t 11 e lJ 11 it e d St ates vv o t 1 increase l1er i111port tax propo tio11Rtely .'" I do11't think so, f if 011e ca11 read aright tl1e sig11s the tin1es tl1e great body of co su111ers in tl1e U11ited States ar a bo~t tired of pay'i11g 11ea vy taxe i11 t l1e i 11terest of a fe\·V G 1 () t1 ceste fis11i11g firn1s and tl{) govert11ne1, dare oppose tl1e popt1 lar vvill ver long.

Ren1en1ber the United State 1nust have our herri11g, re1nembe also tl1at they cannot profitabl procure them by tl1e unaided effort of their O\vn citizens a11d let . 11 gover11 ourselves accordir1gl)r. sl1ot1ld remove fro111 our West Coas fisl1ermen the stig111a of pauperism and depende11ce t1pon An1erica fisher111en \:v hicl1 has been atte111p I ted to be fixed u pot1 the111, '\\1 sl1ould bri11g to an e11d the day \vhen N e\\ 1 fou11dla11ders sh all mere '" heV\rers of wood and drawers of \\rater'' to An1erican skippers, and we cap do it by aiding and encouraging them through a wisely, distribt1ted bounty sy·stetn.

It \vas by tl1is system that the great her-

• HOtJSE OP .L/j>.SSJ:th1BLY PROC~Ebil\GS. • . 1·ndustY-ies of Er1~tla11d at1d ring · ... ~ -- '--' S tlai1 d \vere broug·l1t to tl1e e11or­ ~ co wous proportions tl1at tl1ey asst11ne to-da;/. 'fl1e11 let us profit by-.- s11cl1 examples. Believe 1ne, sir, I a.111 110 t actuatecl by a 11y 1n.ere clesire for party caJJital i11 mal{in~ tl1is s~ _ g;­ o·estion, for I tell yo11 111 all s1n- b cerity tl1at I care 11ot \Vho n1al~es t11e la-vvs of tb~is cout1tr~/, or\vl10 ad~ 111i11 isters tl1e111, so lor1g as tl1ey are 111ac1e and administered \Vitl1 an e)re single to its \Velf are and ad va11ce­ rne11t.

Tv1y -vvork in relatio11 to tl1is fisl1ery questio11 e-xter1ded over t11irty \Tears at1d cu1lainated at t11e I-I agl1e, _,. 1 am content the I-1onot1r and dig- nity of N ewfoundla11d as a self- · governing state of the Empire 11as bee11 11pl1eld, tl1e jurisdiction arid sovereigrtity of Great Britain and over tl1is Island and its te1"ritorial \Vaters has been confirmed, and a way has been 111.ade plain vvl1ereby tl1e people of ·N ew·foundland 1nay enjoy to a fuller extent than 11ereto­ fore the riches that lie at t11eir very doors.

We knoTvV no\v vvhat vve never l(ne\iV before, the full extent of our rights and powers ; That is a ques­ tio11 for the prese11 t Government to determine. I do not know, sir, if the present Government are looking towards Reciprocity with the U11ited States, but I l1ope they are not. This from me, \vho has ever been a most ardent advocate of Reciprocity \Vi th tl1e United States, will, no doubt, at first appear inco11siste11cy \Vhatever in my position.

J\1:y ad­ vocacy of Reciprocity has been for G I-<.eciprocity apart fro1n Ca11ac1a, ai1cl sta te1ner1 t \Vi th \\T l1on1 I 11 a \Ye co1ne in touch on tl1e st1bject <:1re \vel l a \Vare of this. I l1ave never failecl to appreciate tl1at a free entry into tl1e fisl1 tnar"'" k e tJ of t11 e U 11 it e d St ates i 11 'v 11ic11 Canada participated \Vot11l1 be of very little 1)enefit to N e,vfou11dla11d. vVl1y, yot1 may+ ask ?

Bee a t1se Ca~ 11 ada 's vast fisl1ery IJrod 11cts, coin ... bined vvitl1 her · close pr()Ximit}.,. to the United States, tneans the exc1u-'­ sio11 of otlr · fisl1.. \Ve co11ld 11ot possibly co1npl~ te -vvitl1 tl1e Do111i~ nion of Canacla in the ,t\1nerica11 markets. The value of t11e fisheries of t11e Don1inion of Canada for 1908 , amounted to t-vventy-11ine and a l1alf million dollars, a11d fifty per cent of that ainount was produced by the Provi11ces of Nova Scotia and N·e-vv Brunswicl{, both of which are \Vitl1- in easy distance of the principal consuming· ai1d distrib11tir1g cities of America.

It is a notable fact that the export of codfisl1 from this COUJ?.tr_yr to the United States vv-as not as large cluring the ) 7 ears that Y\ie \Vere united vvitl1 Canada t1nder a reciprocity treaty vvith the United States as it \vas prior to and after t11e abrogation of that treaty~ vvhich shows t11at Canada's proxi111ity to the free market enabled l1er to shut out a portion of our former trade, and it bears out an;r contention tl1at if the Dominion of Canada secures a free market for her fishery products in the United States tl1en we should turn f