NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES BILL.]
On the order of the day for going into a
committee on this bill,
Mr. Hyde Villiers said, he hoped the
situation of this colony would invite the
attentive consideration of parliament next
year. he was unwilling to press the
subject, under the peculiar circumstances
of the present session. The inhabitants
of Newfoundland were principally Irish,
or descended from Irish ancestors; and he
knew that, so great was the interest which
they took in the welfare of Ireland, they
would bear the disappointment of the
consideration of their own claims being
omitted this session, when they were
assured that the cause of that omission
was, that the attention of the legislature
had been taken up with restoring religious
peace to Ireland. He did not believe,
however,that they would with equal
contentment see their claims much longer
postponed, and he therefore hoped that,
next session the attention of parliament
would be turned to the consideration, with
a view to the improvement of the colony
of Newfoundland.
Sir. G. Murray said, he could not perceive
the immediate connexion [connection?] between the
Catholic question and the colony of
Newfoundland. he was not aware that the
Catholic question had offered any impediment
to the consideration of any matters
connected with the colony of Newfoundland;
but the truth was, that from
the communication which he had had
with the chief justice of that colony, and
from other information which he derived
from it, things were not in a state to
admit of any immediate change. He
could assure the hon. member, that he
should be happy to receive any communication
from him, or from any other member,
with a view to the benefit of the colony
of Newfoundland, and would give whatever
aid lay in his power to the carrying into
effect any suggestion that might be offered
for the advantage of that colony. if he
obtained the necessary information, he
should be most happy in the next session,
to enter into the consideration of the
subject.
Mr. Robinson said, he should not feel it
his duty to bring forward the amendment,
of which he had given notice last night, if
he could obtain a pledge from the right
hon. gentleman that the government would
introduce next session a legislative measure
in reference to this colony. But the
right hon. gentleman now said, that they
had not sufficient information on the subject
to enable them to legislate; and he
was not bound to believe that they would
have such information next year, or the
year after, more than at present. The
bills in question had now been in operation
for five years, and it was strange if, during
that period the public functionaries in that
colony had not derived from sufficient information
as to the operation of them, to enable
government to legislate on the subject.
A strong impression prevailed amongst the
inhabitants of Newfoundland, that
parliament would legislate on the subject this
session. A public meeting took place
there in the course of last year, the various
clauses of these acts were discussed, a statement
of the abuses growing out of the
operation of these acts was drawn up, and
that statement, with suggestions as to the
alterations which were required, was
brought over, for the information of
government, by individuals of high character
and station in the colony. He did not
want the right hon. gentleman to legislate
in haste, but surely he could not object to
give a pledge now from which the inhabitants
of Newfoundland might have reason
to expect, that all legislation on this
subject would not be postponed, until these
bills should expire: - namely, in the year
1832? Surely the right hon. gentleman
would not object to the appointment of a
committee next session for the purpose of
receiving whatever information the public
functionaries and the inhabitants of the
colony could lay before them, in order to
furnish grounds upon which parliament
could adopt a system of legislation in
reference to that island. The truth was,
that up to the present time the interests
of the inhabitants of Newfoundland had
given way to the interests of private
individuals in this country. He was aware
that the House would be unwilling to
pledge itself on the subject, but if the
right hon. gentleman would say, that he
would agree to the appointment of the
committee next session, the public
functionaries of the island might then be
enabled to furnish him with the information
he wanted; and he would undertake
on the part of the inhabitants, that they
would furnish the committee with a body
of evidence on the subject. If he should
get that pledge, he would not bring
forward his amendment.
Sir G. Murray repeated, that the chief
justice of Newfoundland had stated to him,
that he could not at present furnish him
with sufficient information. Whenever he
obtained the necessary information, he
should be prepared to legislate for the
colony.
The House then went into committee.
On the clause limiting the operation of
these acts to the year 1832 being put.
Mr. Robinson moved as an amendment,
that the word "two" be left out of the
resolution.
Mr. Hume thought the right hon.
Secretary should agree to the proposition.
He did not see what objection he could
have to the appointment of a committee
to inquire into the operation of these
acts.
Sir George Murray said, he should be
ready to legislate, without reference to
the interests of one party or another, but
for the good of the whole colony,
whenever he should obtain sufficient information
on the subject to enable him to do so.
But surely hon. members would not call
upon the House, to enter into a specific
pledge on the subject, in the absence of
the necessary information? That information
he should, in all probability, very
shortly receive.
The committee divided on the amendment;
but as there were only thirty-seven
members present, an adjournment, of
course, took place.
