Pursuant to the proclamation of His Excellency the Governor, Sir Gordon Macdonald,
K.C.M.G., issued on August 2, 1946, the members of the National Convention met at
1 1.45 am,
September 11, 1946, and at noon, the Chairman,
Hon. Mr. Justice Fox, K.C., met the assembled
members in the former House of Assembly
chambers, Colonial Building.
The proclamation was read by the Secretary,
Captain W. Gordon Warren, RA. The commission of Hon. Mr. Justice Fox, KC. was read
by
the Secretary.
The Chairman then took the chair and addressed the members of the National Convention
as follows:
Gentlemen of the National Convention: It is
not my intention to address you at any length this
morning, butI do wish to avail of this opportunity
— an occasion unprecedented in the annals of
this colony, of great, perhaps fateful, moment in
all our lives, and as future generations may consider it, of equally great historic
importance and
of far reaching consequence in the national life
of this beloved Newfoundland of ours — to express to you, and to publicly acknowledge
my
profound sense of appreciation of the honour
conferred upon me in being appointed Chairman
of this National Convention. In that spirit I
solemnly and unreservedly affirm to you, with a
single~minded purpose and deeply cherished
hope, my fervent desire to serve you faithfully
and well, and, to the utmost of my ability, to
co-operate with you and to assist you in your
all-important work and in the performance of the
responsible duties — nay, sacred trust — which
you have undertaken, in the name and on behalf
of our country.
I cordially greet and welcome you, and most
heartily congratulate you upon your election by
the free voice of our people as their representatives to this Convention; and I unite
with
them in the confidence which you so well deserve
and which they thus have manifested, in your
capacity and competence successfully to accomplish the tasks which lie ahead, and
in your
integrity and honour worthily to uphold the lofty
traditions of which you are today the proud custodians and I am sure always will be
the fearless
exponents, to the end that under Providence this
dear land may prosper and progress, and her
people find true peace and lasting happiness and
contentment. May God assist and direct you in
your deliberations and decisions.
The main purpose of our assembling here this
morning, gentlemen, is to have the members sign
the roll. As your names are called, will you please
come to the desk, in twos, and sign your names.
In the following order the names were called by
the Secretary and the members signed the roll:
Mr. Crummey, (District of Bay de Verde)
Mr. Dawe (District of Bay Roberts)
Mr. Jackman (District of Bell island)
Mr. Smallwood (District of Bonavista Centre)
Mr. Bradley (District of Bonavista East)
Mr. Vincent (District of Bonavista North)
Mr. Brown (District of Bonavista South)
Mr. Figary (District of Burgeo)
Mr. Reddy (District of Burin East)
Mr. Hillier (District of Burin West)
Mr. Penney (District of Carbonear)
Mr. Goodridge (District of Ferryland)
Mr. Watton (District of Pogo)
Mr. Banfield (District of Fortune Bay)
Mr. Hollett, M.A. (District of Grand Falls)
Mr. MacDonald (District of Grand Falls)
Mr. Starkes (District of Green Bay)
2 NATIONAL CONVENTION September 1946
Mr. Jones (District of Harbour Grace)
Mr. Kennedy (District of Harbour Main)
Mr. Harmon (District of Harbour Main)
Mr. Spencer (District of Hermitage)
Mr. Fudge (District of Humber)
Mr. Ballam (District of Humber)
Mr. Northeott (District of Lewisporte)
Mr. Miller (District of Placentia East)
Mr. Ryan (District of Placentia West)
Mr. McCarthy (District of Port-au~Port)
Mr. Fowler (District of Port de Grave)
Mr. Roberts (District of St. Barbe)
Mr. Keough (District of St. George's)
Mr. Fogwill (District of St. John's
         East Extem)
Mr. Butt (District of St. John's
         West Extern)
Mr. McCormack (District of St. Mary's)
Mr. Higgins (District of St. John's City
         East)
Mr. Hickman (District of St. John's City
           East)
Mr. Job (District of St. John's City
        East)
Mr. Crosbie (District of St. John's City
       West)
Mr. Cashin (District of St. John's City
       West)
Mr. Harrington (District of St. John's City
       West)
Mr. Cranford (District of Trinity Centre)
Mr. Vardy (District of Trinity North)
Mr. Bailey (District of Trinity South)
Mr. Ashboume (District of Twillingate)
Mr. Newell (District of White Bay)
Rev. Burry (District of Labrador)
Hon. Mr. Justice Fox, K.C. signed as Chairman and was followed by Professor K.C. Wheare,
Mr. W. Gordon Warren, as Secretary and Mr. Francis Ryan as Assistant Secretary.
Mr. Chairman Now, gentlemen, I wish to introduce
the following officials: first, a distinguished scholar, Professor
K.C. Wheare, Professor of Government at Oxford University, whose services
have been made available as expert adviser to this Convention.
Next, Captain W. Gordon Warren, R.A. Secretary of this Convention, and Mr. Francis
Ryan, Assistant Secretary.
That concludes this morning's session, but I might briefly refer to the proposed procedure
for this afternoon. The members will kindly assemble in this chamber at a quarter
to three to await the arrival of His Excellency the Governor at 3' o'clock. His Excellency
has graciously consented to open the Convention. That being done, following His Excellency's
address, the Convention will remain seated until I return to the Chair; and then,
possibly, we shall take an adjournment until tomorrow afternoon, or other such time
as you desire, when an address of loyalty to His Majesty the King, and thanks to His
Excellency the Governor, will be proposed by Hon. Mr. Job and seconded by Mr. Harrington,
and, doubtless, supported by the various members of the Convention. Then will follow
the appointment of a committee to draft the address of loyalty to His Majesty and
thanks to His Excellency. Then, I suggest we might appoint a committee on rules and
procedures; and as I shall mention to you then — I shall not delay you now — we should
propose a resolution making applicable to the proceedings of the Convention parliamentary
procedure in so far as it can be applied, pending the report of the committee on rules
and procedure, which may take a week or ten days. But we must have rules to pursue
our deliberations and I make that suggestion for your thought in the meantime. We
shall now take recess until this afternoon at 2.45.
At 2.45 pm the members of the Convention assembled in the chambers to await the arrival
of His Excellency the Governor and party. At 2.55 the Chairman took the chair. At
2.58 Captain W. Gordon Warren as A.D.C. announced to the Chairman the arrival of
His Excellency the Governor.
Mr. Chairman I have the very great honour to present
His Excellency the Governor Sir Gordon Macdonald, K.C.M.G., who very
graciously has consented to open this Convention. His Excellency the Governor.
Sir Gordon Macdonald, K.C.M.G. We are meeting today in
a building where the giants of
September 1946
NATIONAL CONVENTION
3 former days engaged in wordy warfare to further the
interest of their native country: men who played a noble part in the public
affairs of Newfoundland, who served their day and generation
with wisdom and devotion, men to whom the country is heavily indebted. We
are meeting to welcome another body of men, who are the elected
representatives of the different districts in Newfoundland as members of the
National Convention: men confronted with a task as difficult,
and shouldering a responsibility as heavy as any of their
predecessors; men called upon to give of their best.
In the long and honoured history of Newfoundland there are many notable and outstanding
dates, which her people can remember with
pardonable and justifiable pride. Dates which, as
it were, leap to the mind when one only thinks of
Newfoundland — 1497, 1739, 1832, 1845 and
many others. It is now over 217 years since the
first governor of Newfoundland was appointed,
114 years since representative government was
granted and 91 years since responsible government was first introduced. There are
many
memorable dates in the history of Newfoundland.
Amongst those dates, in the days to come, will
figure with no less lustre September 11, 1946.
That date will not be omitted by the future historian of Newfoundland, since it is
that on which
the elected representatives of Newfoundland
gathered together as a National Convention,
presided over by a fellow countryman of theirs
whose name has a deservedly honoured place in
the counsels of the nation. These 46 Newfoundlanders gather together to consider,
and
here in the interest of accuracy I quote from the
official terms of reference, "to consider and discuss amongst themselves as elected
representatives of the Newfoundland people, the
changes that have taken place in the financial and
economic situation of the island since 1934, and
bearing in mind the extent to which the high
revenues of recent years have been due to wartime conditions, to examine the position
of the
country, and to make recommendations to His
Majesty's Government as to possible forms of
future government to be put before the people at
a national referendum." Though these terms of
reference do not permit of a roving commission,
they do provide ample scope for the members of
the Convention to ventilate their views on the
possible forms of future government.
To consider and discuss the financial and
economic changes that have taken place in Newfoundland during the past 12 years is
no small
undertaking. To examine the position of the
country calls for much thought and keen observation, and then in the light of all
the knowledge
gained and all the information placed before you,
to make recommendations as to possible forms of
future government. Such terms of reference will
make it possible for every member of the Convention to do his duty by his people and
the task
of the Chairman should not be too onerous.
Nevertheless, it is true to state that at no time
have a body of representatives in Newfoundland
been called upon to deal with a more difficult
task, nor to shoulder heavier responsibilities. To
be entrusted with the obligation of recommending what forms of government are deserving
of
consideration by the people of any country is a
great honour and a great responsibility. But to be
entrusted with such a task in a crucial period of
transition in the world's history, at a time of much
uncertainty, adds distinction to the honour
without in any way lessening the responsibility.
Gentlemen, you are certainly entitled to use
the words of Oliver Cromwell, words he wrote
when in a most precarious and perilous position,
surrounded by superior forces, "We are upon an
engagement very difficult" — an engagement
which will demand the highest and the best from
every member of the Convention; which will
demand not only intelligence and knowledge, but
also wisdom and sagacity, tolerance and magnanimity; a task which will call for a
high degree
of selflessness, the noblest form of patriotism.
This in no way means there will not be differences of opinion; it in no way means
that those
differences will not be expressed with vigour and
maybe passion. Persons who feel strongly, some
times speak strongly. But what it does mean is
that when a member does intervene, he will do so
in the highest interest of the Convention and of
the country.
Few questions have roused more feeling, have
disturbed the emotions to a greater degree in
nearly all countries, than questions relating to the
possible forms of government. They raise not
only political and constitutional issues but also
issues of immense moral and social significance,
questions to which the warm heart may be as safe
4 NATIONAL CONVENTION September 1946
a guide as a cool head. But the cool head, the
analytical mind, the wide vision, all will be
necessary. I realised this clearer than ever the
other day. When re-reading that classic on representative govemmentby John Stuart
Mill, I came
across a passage not inappropriate to this occasion, apassage worthy of serious consideration
by each member of the Convention. It reads as
follows: "To determine the form of government
most suitable to any particular people", says Mill,
"we must be able, among the defects and
shortcomings which belong to that people, to
distinguish those that are the immediate impediment to progress; to discover what
it is which, as
it were, stops the way. The best government for
them is the one which tends most to give them
that for want of which they cannot advance, or
advance only in a lame and lopsided manner. We
must not, however, forget", John Stuart Mill continues, "the reservation necessary
in all things
which have for their object improvement, or
progress; namely that in seeking the good which
is needed, no damage, or as little as possible, be
done to that already possessed."
Those are wise words; they were written some
85 years ago, but they are very much up to date.
I would commend them to the earnest consideration of every member of the Convention.
They
will help you in your deliberations.
Gentlemen, you are honoured men. Your fellow countrymen have called you to a very
big job.
You have their confidence. They trust you. They
are expecting great things ofyou. When you have
fulfilled your task as members of the National
Convention, they know that they will be called
upon to exercise their civic responsibilities. Then
one of, if not the most important election in the
history of Newfoundland will take place. Your
fellow countrymen look to you for guidance.
They look to you for guidance during your
deliberations. They hope for your guidance when
you return to your homes. They know you will be
fully informed on all the aspects of all the
problems confronting Newfoundland. They
know that on the next occasion they go to the
polling, they will have the destiny of the rising
generation and following generations in their
hands. They are relying on you in a very special
manner to help them in every way to discharge
that great responsibility. It is an aspect of your
work which I know you are not likely to overlook.
The whole of your work is preliminary but very
closely associated with that forthcoming election.
But your fellow countrymen will not by any
means he the only people interested in your activities. I do not think it is an exaggeration
to say
that the whole civilised world is keenly interested, I feel sure that you will be
fortified in your
work in the knowledge that you have millions of
well-wishers beyond the long and rugged
coastline of your native land. You have the good
wishes of all your fellow countrymen. It is with
that knowledge thatI would have you go on your
way, and in declaring the National Convention
open, I trust that unborn generations of Newfoundlanders will rise to sing your praises
for the
grand job you did. That God's richest blessings
will rest on all your labours is my earnest prayer.
Mr. Chairman Gentlemen of the National Convention, if it pleases you I should accept a motion
for the adjournment of
the Convention until 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon when a motion for the
presenting an address of loyalty to His Majesty and thanks to His
Excellency will be presented to the Convention.
[The Convention adjourned]
