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Newfoundland National Convention, 31 October 1946, Debates on Confederation with Canada

October 1946 NATIONAL CONVENTION 125

October 31, 1946

Mr. Cashin I would like to make the motion that this House adjourn until Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock, in respect for one of our delegates, Mr. Brown, who dropped here yesterday after 126 NATIONAL CONVENTION October 1946noon at his post. I have known Mr. Brown for over 20 years. Both of us entered the House together in 1923 — he was on one side and I was on the other — and were elected again in 1924 and 1928, and, as our association lengthened, my respect and admiration for Mr. Brown increased. This afternoon as he lies stricken and unconscious in the General Hospital, I feel that the delegates in this Convention, should join as one in extending to his wife and family our sincere sympathy and adjourn.
Mr. Bradley It is scarce 24 hours since that tragic scene occurred on the floors of this assembly. I too have been associated with Mr. Brown for about the same period as Major Cashin. In fact we are all three, sir, much of the same political vintage as regards years. In addition, Mr. Brown is a representative of the district which adjoins my own, and I feel that so near to that tragic scene, and with the picture in one's mind of Mr. Brown lying unconscious, that it would unquestionably be proper to adjourn until Monday. I second that motion.
Mr. Starkes I support the mover and seconder of this important motion, who have been associated with Mr. Brown for so many years in public life. I feel sure that not only this House, but the whole country regrets the accident that happened yesterday, and I approve heartily of the motion made by Major Cashin.
Mr. Penney Although a stranger to Mr. Brown until I came to this House, after the happening of yesterday, I feel I should support the motion before the Chair. Some of the last few words that Mr. Brown spoke in this House yesterday afternoon, he turned and spoke them to me, a stranger. I would be remiss in my duty if I did not express my hope that Mr. Brown will yet come out of this serious illness and resume his work with this Convention. In the meantime I send my sincere good wishes for his recovery and for the comfort of his wife and children as they sit by his bedside.
Mr. MacDonald I heartily endorse the motion that this Convention should adjourn until Monday in respect to our colleague Mr. Brown. I have known Mr. Brown quite a number of years, even before he entered political life-knew him when he was a labour leader. I have always found him a man true to his convictions, fair and square to deal with at all times, and although we have differed on some occasions, yet Mr. Brown is a very dear friend of mine, and I have much pleasure in supporting the motion.
Mr. Harrington I feel I should rise to express the feelings of the younger members of the assembly. I have not been associated with Mr. Brown as long as some of the older members who have spoken here; butI have known him for a few years, and have always found him a very forthright gentleman. Whatever his convictions he was never afraid to speak his mind, and he was in the act of doing that yesterday when he was stricken, as Major Cashin said, at his post. I would like to join in sending the sympathetic condolences of this House to his family.
Mr. Smallwood Mr. Chairman, I had not had many conversations with Mr. Brown, although my acquaintance with him runs back to the fall of 1923, but on the night before last, in the lobby of the Hotel, we had quite a pleasant chat, which I was personally very happy to have. Yesterday he collapsed in speaking to the motion that I moved. I know that he opposed the motion with complete sincerity. I know his feeling was that it was his duty to speak his mind honestly, manfully, and he was doing that on that occasion. I confess I hardly know whether I would prefer he had been supporting or opposing the motion. I know we can all agree that the loss of his presence, even temporarily, will be a severe one. Men like Mr. Brown, of manly independence, unafraid to express their honest convictions, are needed now as they will be in the future. I hope, sir, that Mr. Brown will be back again to play his part in this Convention and in the public life of this country.
Mr. Vincent As delegate from Bonavista North, closely associated with Mr. Brown, and having known him for a period of years, I wish to concur with the previous speakers. Upon entering the public life of this country for the first time as a delegate to the National Convention his was the first message of congratulation that I received. I extend my sincere sympathy to Mrs. Brown and the family, and to the good folk of King's Cove and Bonavista South in general.
Mr. Reddy I heartily agree with the previous speakers. I regret the tragic accident which happened to Mr. Brown, and I hope that his recovery will be a matter of a short time and he will be back to his post. I tender to his family my sincere regrets.
October 1946 NATIONAL CONVENTION 127
Mr. Ashbourne I would be remiss in my duty if I did not take voice my feelings as regards this motion. I feel as a representative of the district of Twillingate, that we had the honour to have Mr. Brown as our representative for several years. When I first entered the House of Assembly I entered with Mr. Brown, and the late Mr. George Grimes, who has entered into his eternal rest. I feel I am voicing the sentiments of the district of Twillingate, as well as the whole of Newfoundland, when I say that the people today regret this unfortunate accident and sickness from which Mr. Brown is suffering. I know that throughout Newfoundland today, as Mr. Brown is a national leader for labour, and has fought and championed their cause, the whole country is waiting for word which we hope will soon be given of his recovery. As I said, Mr. Brown was a member for Twillingate district, and although at one time I opposed him as an independent there, yet I will say that in all our dealings together we have been very friendly indeed, and I trust and pray that it will not be long before we regain his service and his influence. He is a very responsible man, looking on both sides of an argument, fair minded, viewing the pros and the cons, and I hope it will not be long before he will be again restored to health. In the meantime I would like to add my sympathy to his wife and relatives at King's Cove and elsewhere in Newfoundland.
Mr. Spencer I was going to say I never knew Mr. Brown before I came to this Convention, but that would hardly be true. It is true that I never met him until at this Convention, but I have heard of him for many years and say that I have followed his career with interest and admired him as a Newfoundlander with high standards. I join with this Convention in extending to his family our deep sympathy at this time.
Mr. Figary I support the motion now before the Chair. It has been my privilege to know Mr. Brown for the last two or three years in the labour movement. I know of the great interest he has in that movement, and for his fellow men. Since coming to this Convention I have sat by him here and I have been very much interested in what he has had to say in this Convention and in the way in which he has his country at heart. I worked with him on the Fisheries Committee, and assure you he is a very capable leader, and of doing the work assigned to him. Therefore, on behalf of the district of Burgeo, I want to extend my sincere sympathy to the family of Mr. Brown.
Mr. Hillier I wish to support this motion in respect to the adjournment of this House out of respect for a fellow member of this Convention. Suffice it to say that he is one of our number and that we shall miss him. I heartily support the motion.
Mr. Vardy I should like to support this motion, and the various speakers. I have known Mr. Brown since we were boys; he is a little older than myself— not very much. I have been entertained at his home. I am sure he is not only a good representative, he is a good neighbour. We shall all miss him and shall naturally look forward to his return to this House as soon as medical science can make it possible.
Mr. Chairman Is the House ready for the question? Proposed by Mr. Cashin, and seconded by Mr. Bradley, that out of respect and sympathy for Mr. K.M. Brown, who was stricken yesterday in the course of the debate with such tragic suddenness, that this Convention adjourn until Monday next at 3 o'clock, and that there be placed on our records the expression of our fervent hope that Mr. Brown may have a speedy recovery, and furthermore that we extend to Mrs. Brown and the family an expression of our sincere sympathy at this time.
[The motion carried, and the Convention adjourned]

Source:

Newfoundland. The Newfoundland National Convention, 1946-1948 Vol 1: Debates. Edited by J.K. Hiller and M.F. Harrington Montreal: Memorial University of Newfoundland by McGill-Queen's University Press, 1995).

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