Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 1946. NEWFOUNDLAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 249, 2 August 1946, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 1946. NEWFOUNDLAND

The war wrecked some countries, which will take a long' time to return to something like normal, while others, somewhat removed from the actual scene of activities, benefited materially. One of these, was Newfoundland, which was recognised as one of the bastions for the defence of the Atlantic and North America. It was the leasing of bases to the United States and Canada, and the fact that no fewer than 22,000 Newfoundlanders were engaged in defence projects which enabled the country to rise above its prewar difficulties. Newfoundland, settled by the English in the seventeenth century, became a Dominion in 1907. However, as a country exporting three-quarters of her products and correspondingly dependent on imports, she was gravely affected by the world depression in the early ’thirties. The Budget became unbalanced, relief measures and public’ works were necessary, and no loans could be raised on the world market. In 1934, by unanimous vote of both Houses of the Legislature, Newfoundland surrendered her 80-years-old responsible representative administration into the hands of a Commission of the Government appointed by the Crown. The Constitution, consisting of an elected House of Assembly, Legislative Council and an Executive Committee responsible to the House of Assembly was temporarily suspended. The Commission, composed' of three members oppointed from Britain and three from Newfoundland, with the Governor as Chairman, assumed full authority with responsibility to the British Parliament.

The Commission did good work, and with the assistance of Britain, the annual deficiency was met and important services restored. A vigorous health programme was undertaken, a fish control scheme helped to eliminate cut-throat competition, and local government was instituted by town councils. Altogether to the outbreak of war, Britain' lent and gave by grants in aid to Newfoundland over 16,000,000 dollars all of which wasiater made a free gift. As a result of the war, Newfoundland has placed her finances on a very sound footing; so much so that she was able to make a free gift to Britain of 500,000 dollars and interest-free loans totalling 12,000,000 dollars. Last month elections took place for a new National Convention, whose task will be to make recommendations to the British Government on possible forms of future government to be put before the people by referendum. Among alternatives canvassed are not only a return to Dominion status with the financial bin dens that it implies, but also a connection of some other kind with Britain, Canada or the U.S.A.