Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/402

 280 THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — NEWFOUNDLAND, ETr.

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR.

Newfoundland was acquired by CTi'eat Britain in 1583 ; exclusive sovereignt}^ over the island Avas ceded by France in 1713 b}'^ the Treaty of Utrecht, confirmed by treaties of 1763 and 1783.

The coast is rugged, especially on the south-west, where the coast range reaches an elevation of nearly 2,000 feet. The hills attain their summit within a few miles of the salt water, and then spread out into an undulating country, consisting largely of bd,rrens and marshes, and inter- sected by numerous rivers and lakes. On the borders of the lakes and water- courses good land is generally found, and in some cases, as about the Exploits, the Gander and the Humber, it is heavily timbered. Area, 42,734 square miles. Population in 1911, 238,670 (122,259 males and 116,411 females). Dependent on Newfoundland is Labrador, the most easterly part of the American continent, with an area of 120,000 square miles, and jiopulation (1911) of 3,949. Of the total Newfoundland population (1901) 62,674 were engaged in the fisheries, 2,475 were farmers, 3,111 mechanics, 1,576 miners. Capital, St. John's, 32,29^ inhabitants (1911) ; other towns being Harbour Grace, 4,279 ; Carbonear, 3,540 ; Twillingate, 3,348 ; Bonavista, 3,911. The birth rate in 1911 was 28 '44 and the death rate 16*02 per 1,000. Immigrants (1910-11), 12,034; emigrants, 12,390.

The government is administered by a Governor, assisted by an Executive Council (not exceeding 9 members), a Legislative Council (not exceeding 20 members), and ai? elected House of Assembly consisting of 36 repre- sentatives (27 government party^ 9 opposition). Members of the Legislative Council receive 120 dollars per session ; members of the Legislative Assembly receive 200 or 300 dollars per session, according as they are resident ot not in St. John's. Governor and Commander- in-Chief. — "Walter Edward David- son, C.M.G., appointed October, 1912 ; salary 10,000 dollars. The Ministry formed March 3, 1909, is as follows : —

Prime Minister, ivithout Portfolio. — Rt. Hon. Sir Edward P. Morris, P.C., K.C.M.G., K.C., LL.D.

Colonial Secretary. — Hon. Robert Watson.

Minister of Justice. — Hon. D. Morison, K.O;

Minister of Finance and Customs. — Hon. M. P. Cashin.

Minister of Agriculture and Mines. — Hon. S. D. Blandford.

Leader of the Legislative Council. — Hon. R. K. Bishop.

Without Portfolio. — Hon. C. H. Emerson, K.C., Hon. M. P. Gibbs, and Hon. J. C. Crosbie.

Not in the Cabinet are :

Minister of Public JFork-^. — Mr. William Woodford.

Minister of Marine a7id Fisheries. — Mr. A. W. Piccott.

For electoral purposes the whole colony is divided into 18 districts or constituencies. Of the total population in 1911, 78,616 belonged to the Church of England, 81,177 were Roman Catholics, 68,045 Methodists, 1,876 Presbyterians, 10,138 Salvation Army, 2,767 other denominations. At the colleges of the Church of England, Roman Catholic, and Methodist bodies, in 1911 there were 478, 369 and 476 students respectively. The number of schools of all kinds (1911) was: Church of lEngland, 349 ; Roman Catholic, 325; Methodist, 335, and other denominations, 62. The attendance at Board schools (1911) was : Church of England, 16,425 ; Romail Catholic, 16,791 ; Methodist, 14,530, and others 2,500 ; total, 50,246 ; total expendi- ture, including Government grants, fees, &c., 337,372 dollars.

By the Anglo-French Convention ot 1904, France renounced her exclusive fishing rights under the treaty of Utrecht, but retained the right to fish in territorial waters from St. John's Cape northwards to Cape