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Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1928, Page 4

With regard to the ownership of Labrador there has been a remarkable development. Alter a dispute between Canada and Newfoundland extending over a century the matter was laid before the Privy Council last year, and that august body, to the general surprise, decided against Canada. This means that Newfoundland now owns about 100,000 square miles on the American mainland, and the question is now being asked, what will she do with her new estate. Climatically, Labrador is almost as uninhabitable .as Spitsbergen. One of the best descriptions of the country, says a writer, is to he found in an old hoys’ book of adventure, Ballantyne’s “llngava,” which is confirmed in all important particulars by Grenfell’s journals and such works as “Th© Lure of the Labrador Wild.” But its natural resources and its situation make it worth owning, or selling, as the case may he, and Newfoundland is prepared to sell. But she seems most likely to sell not to Canada hut to the United States. For Newfoundland lias always regarded herself as despoiled and neglected by Canada, and her people will not hear of confederation with the Dominion. According to Sir W. Coaker, a prominent Newfoundland politician, the Government will not he affected by considerations of British loyalty or patriotism, because of “the tendency of the times to consider dollars and cents first.” This phrase has an unpleasant ring about it. But a recent letter from a Canadian to the “Morning Post” insists that today Canadians of all parties are “truckling to the. United States,” because they are concerned not with sentiment, hut with “hard cash.” All this is rather depressing from the imperialist noint of view, but fortunately there is another version of the story and it comes from the Premier of Newfoundland. He regards as “entirely absurd” the suggestion that any portion of Labrador, now under Newfoundland jurisdiction, should be transferred to the United States. In reference to the previous report regarding sales, the Premier said no one had any authority to speak on his behalf or for his party, which would organise a new Government in a few days. The new Government has been appointed, and judging ljy the Premier’s attitude Labrador will remain within the Empire which doubtless could use the territory to as good an advantage as the United States.