n 1945 a magazine titled "New World Illustrated", published in Ontario, wrote this account of the living conditions in Newfoundland.
"Newfoundland’s climate is damp and lacking in sunshine.
The thin soiled rocky terrain has always made the people dependent
upon imports for almost all their food and clothing. These are expensive
because the Island’s government has always depended on customs duties and tariffs
to make up the greater part of their budget; more than 50% of the gross revenue.
This fact, coupled with low educational standards added to a national poverty that was appalling.
A group of doctors from Canada and the United States recently
conducted an extensive survey and felt that the people should be educated in nutrition.
Education in Newfoundland is backward! Until only a few years ago, education was not compulsory
and even now, compared with other parts of this continent, it is a costly proposition. Hence,
only a very small portion of the people have more than elementary education, and only those of
better than average means can obtain a high school education. There is no degree granting university
in Newfoundland, so only the most fortunate few can come to Canada or the United States for professional training.
Housing which is equally bad falls into three categories. The smallest group comprises the comparatively
well-built and modern houses typical of those on Monkstown Rd. and Winter Ave. on the St. John’s outskirts.
These are the homes of the wealthy merchants and the professional class, which embrace probably less than
one-third of one percent of the Island’s population.
Middle class homes, which are typical of about 60% of the total, constitute the second and largest
group. Of wooden construction and mostly flat-roofed, their doorsteps are flush with the streets, most
of which are unpaved and lacking any kind of sidewalks.
The third section is the slums. Poorly constructed and without sanitary facilities, they are
a breeding ground for much of Newfoundland’s tuberculosis."
This graphic and most disturbing description circulating around Canada in November
1945, did not paint a pretty picture of Newfoundland and in particular St. John’s.
Was this a fair assessment of Newfoundland’s living conditions? What of living conditions in the outports?
Would Confederation with Canada solve the social problems in Newfoundland?
Faces of Confederation
In 1945 a magazine titled "New World Illustrated", published in Ontario, wrote this account of the living conditions in Newfoundland.
"Newfoundland’s climate is damp and lacking in sunshine.
The thin soiled rocky terrain has always made the people dependent
upon imports for almost all their food and clothing. These are expensive
because the Island’s government has always depended on customs duties and tariffs
to make up the greater part of their budget; more than 50% of the gross revenue.
This fact, coupled with low educational standards added to a national poverty that was appalling.
