Dollars Before Patriotism?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 502, 3 November 1928, Page 9

Dollars Before Patriotism?

SELLING LABRADOR TO U.S.A. “Newfoundland an American State ”

(United, P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service)

Reed. 9.5 a.m. ST. JOHN, Friday.

The sale of Labrador to either a Canadian or a United States syndicate, in the opinion of Sir William Goaker, leader of the Fishermen’s Protective Union, and an ally of the'

He said that Newfoundland was in no humour to consider a confederation with Canada. If the day came when it considered its destiny apart from the present constitution, it would be to the United States that they would look. He said Newfoundland was coming round to the idea of being a State of the United States. “If a referendum were taken it would be carried by a 75 per cent, vote, not because Newfoundland has forgotten the old flag, but because the tendency of the times is to consider dollars and cents first. “Newfoundland would never stand by and see the Old Country trampled on, but when the question to be decided means no injury to the old flag, and more dollars and cents for her people, it is likely that the latter feeling will prevail. “The true destiny of Newfoundland, with her fisheries, forests and minerals, lies in the direction of the United States."

The area of Newfoundland is 42,734 square miles and its population (in 1026) 262,177. Of this number 65,44 S are engaged in the fisheries, 3,227 are farmers, 4,862 mechanics and 1,117 miners. The population of Labrador is 3,977. The boundary between Labrador and Canada, for many years in dispute, was defined by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in March last year as being, in effect, the watershed of the rivers flowing into the Atlantic Ocean, By this decision an additional area of 110,000 square miles was brought under the jurisdiction of Newfoundland. "" The Hon. Sir William Ford Coaker has big commercial interests in Newfoundland. He is president and general manager of the Union Publishing Company, the Fishermen’s Union Trading Company, Union Shipbuilding Company and Union Light and Power Company: He was a member of the Executive Government from 1917 to 1923. and Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Newfoundland,

new Premier, Sir Richard Squires, will be among the results of the Opposition victory in Newfoundland. Sir Richard Squires has made no statement. A message from Halifax, Nova Scotia, says that the Opposition victory in Newfoundland draws attention to an interview there in July, 1927, in which Sir William Coaker predicted a victory in the next election and predicted the sale of Labrador to American interests.