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
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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]
