The Newfoundland Royal Commission, 1933: Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage
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Amulree Report Amulree Report Project Title Page The Royal Warrant Introduction Table of Contents Chapter I In June 2002, Robert Hong, BA (Hons., MUN), MA (History, MUN), approached the Chapter II Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Web Site with an offer to provide us with a digitized Chapter III version of the Amulree Commission Report. Earlier in the year he had entered the entire Chapter IV document into a word processor with the intention of making it available to the public in an Chapter V electronic format. Once we were satisfied with the accuracy of the electronic version, we were delighted and thankful to accept Robert Hong's offer. Chapter VI Chapter VII In most cases, what appears in the following pages is the text and layout as we received it. Chapter VIII There is one notable exception. A series of 65 black and white photographs are incorporated Chapter IX into the web site version. These photographs were part of the final report, but were presented Chapter X in their own album. Chapter XI Chapter XII Appendices Maps Photo Album Cover. Album cover of photographs furnished to the Newfoundland Royal Commission, August 1933. Courtesy of the Centre for Newfoundland Studies Archives (Coll-207), Memorial University of Newfoundland Library, St. John's, Newfoundland. (35 kb) They have been embedded into appropriate locations on the web site to provide a visual representation, whenever possible, of places mentioned in the 1933 report. The images mainly depict the architecture and landscape of Newfoundland outport communities, several of which have since been resettled. There are a number of images of northern Labrador showing the rugged terrain along the coast. None of the photographers are identified, but 36 of the images are known to have been taken by the noted Newfoundland photographer Robert Holloway (1850-1904) or by Holloway's studio. Most of these images likely date from the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. The remainder were probably taken in the year 1933. They are aerial photographs, and according to the CNS Archives where the images are held, they are possibly the work of two different photographers. The hot-linked headings in the side bar and in the Table of Contents will take the visitor to various sections on the web site. © 2002 Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Web Site Updated for this PDF version, 2013. Amulree Report Title Page The Royal Warrant Table of Contents Chapter I NEWFOUNDLAND Chapter II Chapter III ROYAL COMMISSION Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI 1933 Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X REPORT Chapter XI Chapter XII Appendices Maps Presented by the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to Parliament by Command of His Majesty, November, 1933 LONDON PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONARY OFFICE To be purchased directly from H.M. STATIONARY OFFICE at the following addresses Adastral House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2; 120, George Street, Edinburgh 2 York Street, Manchester I; I, St. Andrew's Cresent, Cardiff 15, Donegall Square West, Belfast or through any Bookseller 1934 Price 5s. 6d. Net Cmd. 4480 Amulree Report ROYAL WARRANT Title Page The Royal Warrant Table of Contents Chapter I Dated 17th February, 1933 GEORGE R.I. Chapter II Chapter III GEORGE the FIFTH, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the Chapter IV British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of Chapter V India: To Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellor William Warrender Chapter VI Mackenzie, Baron Amulree, Knight Grand Cross of Our Most Excellent Order of Chapter VII the British Empire, one of Our Counsel learned in the Law, Our Trusty and Well- Chapter VIII beloved Charles Alexander Magrath, Esquire, Doctor of Laws, and Our Trusty and Well-beloved Sir William Ewen Stavert, Knight Commander of Our Most Chapter IX Excellent Order of the British Empire, Greeting. Chapter X Chapter XI WHEREAS on the advice of Our Ministers in Our United Kingdom of Great Chapter XII Britain and Northern Ireland, in Our Dominion of Canada and in Our Island of Appendices Newfoundland We have deemed it expedient that a Commission should issue Maps forthwith to examine into the future of Newfoundland and in particular to report on the financial situation and prospects therein. NOW know ye that We, reposing great trust and confidence in your knowledge and ability, have authorised and appointed and do by these presents authorise and appoint you the said William Warrender Mackenzie, Baron Amulree, Charles Alexander Magrath, and Sir William Ewen Stavert, to be Our Commissioners for the purposes of, and to make, such enquiry. AND We do hereby authorise and require you with all convenient despatch and by all lawful means to enter upon, and to collect evidence respecting the subject matter of, such enquiry and to suggest such measures as may appear to you best calculated to meet the situation. AND We do further require you to conform in all things to such instructions as shall be addressed to you by Us. AND We do hereby charge and command all whom it may concern that according to their respective powers and opportunities they be aiding to you in the execution of this Our Commission. AND, for the purpose of aiding you in your enquiries, We hereby appoint Peter Alexander Clutterbuck, Esquire, on whom We have conferred the Decoration of the Military Cross to be Secretary to this Our Commission. Given at Our Court at Saint James's this Seventeenth day of February, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Thirty-three in the Twenty-third Year of Our Reign. NOTE.--The United Kingdom share of the cost of the Royal Commission is estimated at £2,000. The cost of printing and publishing this Report is estimated by the Stationary Office at £345. Amulree Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page The Royal Warrant Table of Contents Page Chapter I The Royal Warrant ............................................................... ii Chapter II Chapter III REPORT Paragraphs Chapter IV CHAPTER I. -- INTRODUCTORY .............................................. 1-12 Chapter V Chapter VI CHAPTER II. -- DESCRIPTIVE -- Chapter VII Chapter VIII Area and Population ......................................................... 13-20 Chapter IX Climate and Soil ............................................................... 21-23 Chapter X Communications ............................................................... 24-31 Chapter XI Natural Resources ............................................................ 32-39 Chapter XII Local Manufactures ........................................................... 40-41 Appendices Imports and Exports ......................................................... 42-46 Maps Constitution and Local Government ................................... 47-54 CHAPTER III. -- HISTORY OF NEWFOUNDLAND SINCE THE GRANT OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT-- Period from 1855-1895 ...................................................... 55-92 Period from 1895 to present day ....................................... 93-120 CHAPTER IV. -- THE FINANCIAL POSITION -- General Survey ............................................................... 121-27 Period from 1920-21 to 1931-32 ....................................... 128-31 Able-bodied Relief ......................................................... 132-38 Onset of the Depression ............................................... 139-42 Establishment of a system of Treasury control .............. 143-47 Financial Year, 1932-33 ................................................... 148-50 Current Financial Year .................................................... 151-54 Examination of Revenue ................................................. 155-66 Revenue since the War ................................................. 156-58 Customs Duties ........................................................... 159-60 Income Tax ................................................................... 161-63 Liquor Profits ............................................................... 164-65 General ........................................................................ 166 Examination of Expenditure ........................................... 167-86 Expenditure since the War ............................................ 167 Analysis of Expenditure ................................................ 168-75 Newfoundland Railway .................................................. 176-83 Newfoundland Hotel ..................................................... 184-85 General ........................................................................ 186 The Public Debt .............................................................. 187-94 Summary of Conclusions ................................................. 195 CHAPTER V. -- PRESENT STATE OF THE ISLAND -- Considerations arising from distribution of the population 197-201 Life of the People ............................................................ 202-10 Present condition of the people ....................................... 211-26 The Political Machine ...................................................... 227-37 Dissipation of Natural Resources .................................... 238-46 CHAPTER VI. -- THE FISHERIES -- I. Descriptive and Explanatory -- The Seal Fishery ....................................................... 248-51 The Cod Fishery ........................................................ 252-92 The Bank Fishery ................................................... 253-56 The Shore Fishery .................................................