§ Sir Alan HerbertWith your permission, Mr. Speaker, I beg to present a Humble Petition signed by some 50,000 citizens of Newfoundland most loyal subjects of the Crown. The Prayer is as follows:
Your petitioners therefore humbly prayI beg you, Mr. Speaker, to instruct the Clerk of the House to read this Petition to the House.And, as in duty bound, your Petitioners will ever pray.
- (a) that immediate provision may be made for the restoration to Newfoundland of Responsible Government as under Letters Patent 1876 and 1905 and in accordance with Letters Patent 1934;
- (b) that no negotiations be undertaken or concluded for Union of Newfoundland with Canada, other than by representatives of a duly elected Government of the people of Newfoundland.
§ Mr. SpeakerThis is a procedure we have recently had twice in one day, and I am in some doubt about it. The words of the Standing Order are "if required." I do not know whether that means "if required by the House," or "if required by the Member in charge of the Petition." I propose to look into the matter, but on this occasion I am quite prepared that the Petition 1050 should be read by the Clerk because, incidentally, I know that it is a short one; but not only that, I realise that there is some importance attached to it by many in the Dominion of Newfoundland. The House will understand, when I say that I am looking into the matter, that if Members who present Petitions should have the right to require that they should be read, I can foresee that Members wishing to obstruct, or for some other reason, could have very long Petitions read out, and therefore there would be no time for Questions. I propose therefore to give a Ruling shortly, after having given the matter my serious consideration.
§ The Clerk (Mr. F. W. METCALFE) read the Petition to the House as follows:
§ "To The Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled:
§ The humble petition of the undersigned people of Newfoundland showeth as follows:—
§ 1. Your Petitioners are loyal British subjects and qualified electors of the Dominion of Newfoundland.
§ 2. In 1933 upon the request of the Legislative Council and Assembly of Newfoundland, the Letters Patent of 1876 and 1905 were suspended and new Letters Patent were issued bearing date January 30th, 1934, which provided for the administration of the Island until such time as it became self-supporting again.
§
3. The arrangements made for the administration of Newfoundland during the period of the suspension of Letters Patent 1876 and 1905 clearly indicated that:—
'It would be understood that as soon as the Island's difficulties are overcome and the country is again self-supporting Responsible Government, on request from the people of Newfoundland would be restored.'
§ 4. In 1948 the Newfoundland National Convention unanimously agreed that Newfoundland was and had been for several years self-supporting and recommended that the people of Newfoundland be given the opportunity of requesting the restoration of Responsible Government or the retention of Commission of Government. But, contrary to this recommendation, plebiscites were held in 1948 in which an issue was made of the question of Confederation with Canada.
§ 5. In the referendum of July 22nd, 1948, less than 43 per cent. of the total electorate voted for Confederation with Canada which percentage Your Petitioners hold is insufficient to justify any change in the Newfoundland' constitution as it existed under Letters Patent 1876 and 1905.
§ 6. Moreover Your Petitioners protest any official recognition of the results of the said referendum on the grounds that 1051
- (a) the said referendum was contrary to the letter and spirit of the Letters Patent 1934;
- (b) it was a denial of the majority vote of the National Convention;
- (c) it did not take into account Section 146 of the British North America Act 1867 wherein provision was made as to the procedure to be followed in the event of union between Canada and Newfoundland;
- (d) it asked the electorate to commit their country to Confederation with Canada without any negotiation of terms;
- (e) it circumvented the pledge given Newfoundland in 1933, relating to the restoration of Responsible Government.
§ Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray
- (a) that immediate provision may be made for the restoration to Newfoundland of Responsible Government as under Letters Patent 1876 and 1905 and in accordance with Letters Patent 1934;
- (b) that no negotiations be undertaken or concluded for Union of Newfoundland with Canada, other than by representatives of a duly elected Government of the people of Newfoundland.
§ To lie upon the Table.