The Commission of Government was a non-elected body that governed the Dominion of Newfoundland from 1934 to 1949. Established following the collapse of Newfoundland's economy during the Great Depression, it was dissolved when the dominion became the tenth province of Canada on March 31, 1949. It was composed of civil servants who were directly subordinate to the British Government in London.
The commission (commonly known as the "Amulree Commission") was chaired by Lord Amulree, appointed by the British government, and also included Charles Alexander Magrath, appointed by the Canadian government, and Sir William Ewen Stavert, who represented the Newfoundland government.
The commission recommended the temporary suspension of responsible government in Newfoundland, and replacing it with a Commission of Government made up of the British-appointed Governor and six commissioners appointed by the Crown made up of three British officials and three Newfoundland-born appointees.
Alderdice was in favour of this recommendation and accordingly put it to the House of Assembly, which duly approved the proposals and thus voted itself out of existence.
Governance by the Commissionedit
The Commission of Government was sworn in on 16 February 1934,[2] with Alderdice as vice-chairman, and immediately set about reforming the administration of the country in hopes of balancing the government's budget. With the help of grants in aid from the United Kingdom, the Commission attempted to encourage agriculture and reorganize the fishing industry. While it did much to expand government health services to rural areas, for example, it could not solve the basic economic problems of a small export-oriented country during a time of worldwide economic stagnation.
American and Canadian military spending in Newfoundland during the 1940s caused an economic boom and allowed the Commission of Government to consider how to reintroduce a system of democratic government. However, the British government believed that wartime prosperity would be short-lived. So it established the Newfoundland National Convention in 1946 to debate constitutional options, which were submitted to the people in two referendums in 1948. By a slender majority, Newfoundlanders chose to become a province of Canada, rather than return to the status of a self-governing dominion. The Commission of Government continued to govern Newfoundland until March 31, 1949, when Newfoundland joined Canada.
Notice dated January 31, 1934, issue no. 34021 of February 6, 1934, p. 834
Notice dated April 21, 1936, issue no. 34280 of May 1, 1936, p. 2800
Notice dated July 29, 1936, issue no. 34312 of August 7, 1936, p. 5184
Notice dated January 18, 1937, issue no. 34363 of January 26, 1937, p. 554
Notice dated May 10, 1937, issue no. 34400 of May 21, 1937, p. 3297
Notice dated September 15, 1937, issue no. 34439 of September 28, 1937, p. 6016
Notice dated May 31, 1939, issue no. 34634 of June 9, 1939, p. 3883
Notice dated March 6, 1941, issue no. 35102 of March 11, 1941, p. 1447
Notice dated June 3, 1941, issue no. 35183 of June 6, 1941, p. 3223
Notice dated July 3, 1941, issue no. 35208 of July 4, 1941, p. 3821
Notice dated September 14, 1944, issue no. 36709 of September 19, 1944, p. 4343
Notice dated September 29, 1944, issue no. 36724 of September 29, 1944, p. 4491
Notices dated September 28, 1945, issue no. 37305 of October 12, 1945, p. 5026
Notice dated September 12, 1946, issue no. 37747 of October 4, 1946, p. 4945
Notice dated January 25, 1947, issue no. 37868 of January 31, 1947, p. 559
Further readingedit
Report of the Newfoundland Royal Commission
External linksedit
Commission of Government 1934-1949
December 06, 2023
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Commission of Government was a non elected body that governed the Dominion of Newfoundland from 1934 to 1949 Established following the collapse of Newfoundland s economy during the Great Depression it was dissolved when the dominion became the tenth province of Canada on March 31 1949 It was composed of civil servants who were directly subordinate to the British Government in London Contents 1 Background 2 Governance by the Commission 3 Chairmen of Commission of Government 4 Members of the Commission of Government 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Sources 7 Further reading 8 External linksBackground editNewfoundland s economic difficulties were exacerbated by debt incurred during the First World War and the collapse of fish prices during the Depression 1 In 1933 following a prolonged period of economic crisis and severe budgetary deficit and civil unrest culminating in a riot which brought down the previous government the government of Prime Minister Frederick C Alderdice asked the British and Canadian governments to establish a royal commission the Newfoundland Royal Commission to investigate the dominion s continuing crisis and to suggest a solution to its problems The commission commonly known as the Amulree Commission was chaired by Lord Amulree appointed by the British government and also included Charles Alexander Magrath appointed by the Canadian government and Sir William Ewen Stavert who represented the Newfoundland government The commission recommended the temporary suspension of responsible government in Newfoundland and replacing it with a Commission of Government made up of the British appointed Governor and six commissioners appointed by the Crown made up of three British officials and three Newfoundland born appointees Alderdice was in favour of this recommendation and accordingly put it to the House of Assembly which duly approved the proposals and thus voted itself out of existence Governance by the Commission editThe Commission of Government was sworn in on 16 February 1934 2 with Alderdice as vice chairman and immediately set about reforming the administration of the country in hopes of balancing the government s budget With the help of grants in aid from the United Kingdom the Commission attempted to encourage agriculture and reorganize the fishing industry While it did much to expand government health services to rural areas for example it could not solve the basic economic problems of a small export oriented country during a time of worldwide economic stagnation American and Canadian military spending in Newfoundland during the 1940s caused an economic boom and allowed the Commission of Government to consider how to reintroduce a system of democratic government However the British government believed that wartime prosperity would be short lived So it established the Newfoundland National Convention in 1946 to debate constitutional options which were submitted to the people in two referendums in 1948 By a slender majority Newfoundlanders chose to become a province of Canada rather than return to the status of a self governing dominion The Commission of Government continued to govern Newfoundland until March 31 1949 when Newfoundland joined Canada Chairmen of Commission of Government editTerm Chairman1934 1935 Sir David Murray Anderson1936 1946 Sir Humphrey T Walwyn1946 1949 Sir Gordon MacDonaldMembers of the Commission of Government editName From To RoleFrederick Charles Alderdice 16 February 1934 1936 Commissioner for Home Affairs and Education Vice Chairman 1934 1936Sir John Hope Simpson 16 February 1934 1936 Commissioner of Natural Resources and Acting Commissioner of JusticeWilliam Richard Howley 16 February 1934 1937 Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General 1934 1937 Vice Chairman 1936 1937Thomas Lodge 16 February 1934 1937 Commissioner of Public UtilitiesJohn Charles Puddester knighted in 1939 16 February 1934 1947 Commissioner of Public Health and Welfare Vice Chairman 1938 1947Everard Noel Rye Trentham 16 February 1934 1937 Commissioner of FinanceJames Alexander Winter 20 April 1936 1941 Commissioner of Home Affairs and EducationRobert Benson Ewbank 28 July 1936 1939 Commissioner of Natural ResourcesSir Wilfrid Wentworth Woods 15 January 1937 1944 Commissioner of Public UtilitiesJohn Hubert Penson 10 May 1937 1941 Commissioner of FinanceLewis Edward Emerson knighted in 1944 15 September 1937 1944 Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General 1937 1940 Commissioner of Defence 1940 1944John Henry Gorvin 31 May 1939 1941 Commissioner of Natural ResourcesIra Wild 16 February 1941 1946 Commissioner of FinancePeter Douglas Hay Dunn 30 June 1941 1945 Commissioner of Natural ResourcesHarry Anderson Winter 20 May 1941 1947 Commissioner of Home Affairs and Education 1941 1944 Commissioner of Justice and Commissioner of Defence 1944 1947Sir George Ernest London 5 September 1944 1945 Commissioner of Public UtilitiesAlbert Joseph Walsh knighted in 1949 5 September 1944 1949 Commissioner of Home Affairs and Education 1944 1949 Commissioner of Defence 1947 1949James Scott Neill 28 September 1945 1949 Commissioner for Public Utilities and SupplyWilliam Henry Flinn 28 September 1945 1949 Commissioner of Natural ResourcesRichard Lewis Malcolm James 12 September 1946 1949 Commissioner of FinanceHerman William Quinton 1 January 1947 1949 Commissioner of Public Health and Welfare 1947 1949Herbert Lench Pottle 19 September 1947 1949 Commissioner for Public WelfareSee also editList of Newfoundland Prime Ministers Newfoundland Royal CommissionReferences edit Commission of Government The Canadian Encyclopedia www thecanadianencyclopedia ca Retrieved 2023 10 21 The Commission of Government 1934 1949 www heritage nf ca Retrieved 2019 12 09 Sources edit Details as per notices in The London Gazette Notice dated January 31 1934 issue no 34021 of February 6 1934 p 834 Notice dated April 21 1936 issue no 34280 of May 1 1936 p 2800 Notice dated July 29 1936 issue no 34312 of August 7 1936 p 5184 Notice dated January 18 1937 issue no 34363 of January 26 1937 p 554 Notice dated May 10 1937 issue no 34400 of May 21 1937 p 3297 Notice dated September 15 1937 issue no 34439 of September 28 1937 p 6016 Notice dated May 31 1939 issue no 34634 of June 9 1939 p 3883 Notice dated March 6 1941 issue no 35102 of March 11 1941 p 1447 Notice dated June 3 1941 issue no 35183 of June 6 1941 p 3223 Notice dated July 3 1941 issue no 35208 of July 4 1941 p 3821 Notice dated September 14 1944 issue no 36709 of September 19 1944 p 4343 Notice dated September 29 1944 issue no 36724 of September 29 1944 p 4491 Notices dated September 28 1945 issue no 37305 of October 12 1945 p 5026 Notice dated September 12 1946 issue no 37747 of October 4 1946 p 4945 Notice dated January 25 1947 issue no 37868 of January 31 1947 p 559Further reading editReport of the Newfoundland Royal CommissionExternal links editCommission of Government 1934 1949 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Newfoundland Commission of Government amp oldid 1183945914, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
