Star.
London, England, 1831-09-14 00:00:00

WIWPOUNDLAND.

Mr. ROBINSON presented a petition from Waterford
for protectio:: for the Newfoundland trade.
Mr. IifIBINSON said he hoped to receive the attention
of the house to a motion of which he had given notice re-
spectin4 the island of Newfoundland, which contained
1011,01,0 of their fellow suliects who had no legislature of
their own. For three sessions of Parliament he had cndea-
voured to bring the subject under the consideration of the
house, and if he were to posTone it at present, it would be
tantamount to an abandonment of the interest of the colony,
1 which was one of the oldest settlements of the Crown on the
other side of the Atlantic; and if the capabilities of the co-
lony had been duly appreciated, would hove been one of its
most valuable appet.dages. For a hay, tiute Newfoundland
was only regarded as a foreign fishing station, to which
fishermen resorted in the summer. and every discouragement
was given to their becoming settlers. lie held in his hand a
memorial from a respectable inhabh.ant to the Governor for
leave to build a pigst}e. The reason he believed was, that
the island was left to the entire government of the Admi.
ralty. It was perfectly well known to all connected with
the colonies, that it was almost impossible to procure the
attention of the Government to their peculiar interests.
The attention of Government was so fully occupied that
they were always glad of an excuse, and the ready answer
Was, we will look into it—we will try and attend to it—we
will call for information—and in this way improvement was
indefinitely postponed. The island was lately left for six weeks
wholly without law between the expiring of one act of par-
Bement and t;:e enactment of another. The inhabitants had
now universally agreed on a petition to the crown for a local
legislature. (The hon. gentleman read the petition.) Front
a communication he had the honour of having with his Ma-
jesty, he knew that his Majesty entertained a lively recol.
lection of leis visit to Newfoundland, and was must anxious
to promote its happiness. What was there in the state of
Newfoundland that should prevent its having a local govern.
ntent, as well as Prince Edward's Island with a popula-
tion of no more than thirty-two thousand inhabitants,
or Bermuda, with still less? (Hear, hear, hear.)--
The Noble Lord admitted that it wrs right the inhabitants
should have a share in their own govemmeut,but he thought
that share would be almost wholly engrossed by the town of
St. John's : this, however, was a mistake, the whole people
might take a part, and be benefited. The real cause of de.
lay was, that there was a body of merchants in this coun-
try who traded to Newfoundland, and had no notion of
promoting its agriculture, or local welfare; and though
they would not say that Newfoundland was not entitled to
have a local legislature, yet they were averse from any alte.
ration. The extent of the island was equal to that of Eng-
' laud, and its soil was fertile, and yet even the greater
part of the potatoes consumed in it were Imported
from Prince Edward's Island and Ireland (hear, hear.)
Another object of his motion would be to have the long.
contested right of fishing on the coast settled with the French
Government. In the time of Charles I. the French paid a
tribute for fishing on that coast ; and by various treaties
since, the right of fishing was given to the French ; and, in
consequence, they now claim an exclusive tight on ap,
ar-
ticular part of the coast, from which they lately removed an
English fishing vessel, sent from Newfoundland for the pure
pose of establishing the tibia. Tho rest fact was, the house
had too much to do, without occupying themselves with the
petty legislation of Newfoundland. He moved that an ad-
dress be presented to his Majesty, praying that he would be
pleased to grant to his faithful colony of Newfoundland a
constitutional government, similar to those enjoyed by his
Majesty's other colonies in North America; and that his
Majesty would be pleased to give directions for ascertaining
the rights of his subjects to fish on the coast of New-
foundland.

Lord 110 WICK said, he felt great embarrassment from
the manner in which the hon. gent. had brought the sub-
ject on a day appointed for bringing up the report of the
Committee on the all-important subject of Reform, the
anxiety respecting which made it impossible to enter at large
into the question. He thought it was not unreasonable to
request of the hon. gent. to suspend his motion for the pre-
sent Session, but the hon. gent. did not think proper to com-
ply with that request. He agreed with the hon. gent. that
the time was come when the people of Newfoundland mustbe
entrusted with a considerable share in their own legislation ;
but he could not agree in the address proposed by the hon.
gent. which could not now be sufficiently considered, as it
was certain that the whole subject must come under con-
sideration during the ensuing Session. (Hear, hear.)
In 1827, the whole population was 38,000, of which 11,000
were inhabitants of St. John's, and the rest were so scattered
that they could hardly do otherwise than choose the inha-
bitants of St. John's to represent them. The Governor of
Newfoundland would shortly return to this country, and with
the local information to be received front him and others,
Government would he better enabled than at present to form
' a constitution for Newfoundland. He should not meet the
hon. gentleman's motion with a direct negative, but would
move :he previous question, in which he hoped the House
would concur.
Sir J. NEWPORT recommended the hon. member to
withdraw his motion for the present, to afford opportunity
for fuller investigation next session of parliament.
Mr. HUME said every member of the house must be
anxious to pay attention to the recommendation of the right
hen. Bart. but he must say that the time was come when he
thought the prayer of the people of Newfoundland should
be attended to. They prayed to be allowed to legislate for
themselves, and not to be left under the government of one
man. While Newfoundland and other colonies were go.
vented in Downing-street, the colonies must be discon.
tented, and this country must pay the expense of mis-
government. For many years this country had been paying
the expense of misgovernment in Newfoundland, for which
30,0001. had been voted one year, and 12,0001. had been
voted last year. (Hear.) He did not press for any im-
proper haste, but the address did not pledge the house to
more than giving thecolony a representative Government
the same as the other North American colonies. (Hear.)
If the noble lord would look at Upper Canada, he would
find that the best representatives came from the scattered
districts. A local legislature would soon cause the making
of roads through the island, which would be a great and per.
manent improvement. He hoped his hon. friend would press
his motion, and that a British House of Commons could not
be so unmindful of the rights of their fellow-subjects as not
to agree to it. The only way of making the colonies sup.
port themselves, and of enabling them to prosper, was to
give them the management of their own affairs. (Hear.)
Mr. FERGUSON hoped the hon. member would with-
draw his motion, and give notice of bringing it forward on a
future day ; or that be would move at present for a select
committee. He was, on general principles, prepared to say
that NewfouncUand could not be well governed in Downing-
street, but lie was not at present prepared to vote for the ad-
dress. (Hear)
Lord ALTIIORP said the subject was at present under
the consideration of Government, but he had no objection to
the appointment of a committee, though it could not lead to
any legislation on the subject in the present year. (Hear.)
Mr. LABOUCHERE would rather Government would
bring the subject before the house than refer it to a commit-
tee, though, as that mode appeared to be approved of, be
should not oppose it. (Hear.)

Mr. O'CONNELL hoped the hon. member would with-
, draw his motion for the present, as Government had given a
pledge to bring the subject before the house next session.
The inhabitants of Newfoundland were mostly descended
from the Irish, and though they were Protestants and Ca-
tholics, they left all their religious animosities behind them,
and agreed most harmoniously. (Hear.)
Mr. C. PELHAM said, it was not to he told the itn-
mense mine of wealth with which Newfoundland was sur-
rounded in its fisheries, and which was only unproductive
for want of a local legislature, such as that now called for.
Mr. BURGE thought Newfoundland was entitled to a
local legislature, and that Its scattered population formed no
reasonable objection.
Mr. ROBINSON replied, lie world be quite ready to
withdraw his motion if his Majesty's Ministers would
promise, (should they be In office next session) to give a
legislative Government to Newfoundland, or allow a Com-
mittee of inquiry.
Lord ALTHORP, in answer, said, whatever govern.
ment might exist next session, that Parliament must of no.
cessity replate the Government of Newfoundland ; fur his
own part, he would have no objection to sanction a Com-
mittee of Inquiry ; but he thought the nature of the
measure was such, that it would, properly rest with Mi-
nisters. _ _ _

After a few observations from Lord Howick, the Ilon.
Member consented to withdraw his motion.

Mr. ROBINSON, on being called upon for another mo-
tion, of whicit notice had been given, we b,lievc relating to
Nova Scotia, Paid, that on the assurance given by the Noble
Lord on his previous motion, he would not retard the pro-
ceeding with the Reform Dill, but would wi:hdraw the
motion.

Several other notices on the paper tetra postponed.
Mr. HUME moved that an humble address be presented
to his Alajesty, praying for a report of the return relating
to the Scotch Universities.—Agreed to.
Mr. HUAI E made a similar motion regarding tha waste
lands of Canada.—Agreed to.
Mr. HUME made a similar motion for a return of the
number of persona that had emigrated from this country to
North America, and to distinguish tiae numbers from Eng.
land, Scotland, and Irelatd, &e.
Lord A LTHORP said he would have had no objection
whatever to furnish this information, but he alld not .see
bow it was possible to obtain it.
The order of the day was then read for the further con.
sideration of the report on the Committee on the