Mr. Smallwood I beg to move notice of motion
to move the following amendment to the motion
of Mr. Higgins, namely that the following words
be added: "Provided that under this system the
United Kingdom government would, by means
of grants-in-aid or otherwise if the need arose,
guarantee the solvency of the public finances of
Newfoundland without any lowering of the level
of the country's public services." It would then
read:
Be it resolved that this Convention recommend to the United Kingdom Government
that the wishes of the people of Newfoundland should be ascertained at the earliest
moment as to whether it is their desire
that responsible government, as it existed in
Newfoundland prior to its suspension in
1934, be restored; or that the present form of
government be continued, provided that
under this system the United Kingdom
government would, by means of grants-in-
aid or otherwise if the need arose, guarantee
the solvency of the public finances of New
foundland without any lowering of the level
of the country's public services.
Mr. Higgins I would like to say that it is rather
out of order. It is an amendment to a motion I have
not made or might not even make. The proper
time to move the amendment is when the motion
is made.
Mr. Smallwood I think it is perfectly well precedented in parliamentary practice when motions
appear on the order paper, for other members to
give notice of amendment.
Mr. Chairman I would not accept an amendment without notice.
Mr. Higgins Should it not be after the motion is
made? The motion may be withdrawn.
Mr. Chairman If the motion is withdrawn, obviously there will not be an amendment to a
motion not made.
Mr. Higgins I move on behalf of Mr. Hollett
order no. 1 on the order paper.
Mr. Chairman It is moved that I should receive
and put the closure motion. Members will recall
that on last Friday I received notice of this motion
1230 NATIONAL CONVENTION January 1948
formally by Mr. Hollett. On Wednesday I
deferred it for 48 hours. It can hardly be alleged
that the thing was railroaded through and that
every member was not given sufficient opportunity to speak to the business then before
the
Chair. As I intimated on Wednesday and again
yesterday afternoon, I think I have exercised my
discretion to the utmost limits. I feel now that the
time has come when the fate of this motion must
become the responsibility of the House. Before I
put the motion, I want to make it clear that it is
not debatable, not amendable. The House therefore must accept or reject the motion
as is. The
motion before the Chair is "that the debate on the
proposals received on November 6 from the Rt.
Hon. The Prime Minister of Canada shall not be
further adjourned."
[The motion carried]
Mr. Higgins Before going on to the next order
on the order paper, I would like to make a suggestion to you and to the House. It
appears fairly
definite now that we are going to try and conclude
our business before the end of this month. That
would give us very little more than ten clear days
between now and the end of our sessions. We
have given no thought or no definite expressed
thought to the idea of how we are going to conclude the business of the house — how
we are
going to finally wind up the Convention, what
procedure we should take, whether it should be
by formal report drafted by a committee of the
House or some other such procedure, or just in
what form the final wind-up should be made. For
that reason I feel that before we go on to another
matter, because of the shortness of time, it would
be advisable in the interests of members and the
business of the House, if instead of discussing the
next motion we decided to go into a private
meeting immediately after we adjourn, if members are agreeable to adjourn, to discuss
the
whole matter. With that idea in mind and with the
consent of the whole House, I now move that we
adjourn until Monday or Tuesday and immediately following the finalisation of the
orders of
the day, we should have that private session. I
move that, and feel that not only will we be
expediting our business but will certainly be
doing something of great value.
Mr. Chairman I think the point is very well
taken. As members will recall, section 3 lays
upon this Convention the duty of making recommendations. Further than that, standing
order 39
requires members to make a report to the
Secretary of State for Dominions Affairs on the
forms of government which, in the opinion of the
Convention, would be inserted in the referendum
presumably to take place next spring. The matter
has given me considerable concern; and while I
have some ideas about it, I would like to put them
before members and have an exchange of ideas.
We have to decide future procedure particularly
in view of the fact that time is running out. The
sooner we get at it, the sooner we will know
where everybody is. The House must decide what
is going to happen. I associate myself unqualifiedly with the view expressed by Mr.
Higgins. I do not know how other members feel about
it.
Mr. Hickman I would like to say that for four
days and four nights most of the members have
spoken and I doubt if very many are ready to
continue the debate on this motion. The next two
days would give them a good opportunity to
prepare to go on. I have much pleasure in seconding the motion to adjourn, and say
15 minutes
later to have a private session.
Mr. Chairman It will be a double-barrelled motion. Would the House please consider whether
or not a motion to adjourn is put and carried,
whether we should adjourn to Monday or Tuesday.
Mr. Smallwood As we have merely ten days left
— I am agreeable to having a private session this
afternoon — I think we should adjourn until
Monday, not Tuesday.
[The Convention adjourned until January 19]
