remaining two had to be abandoned owing to the war, and seemed, in 1921, unlikely to be built in the near future unless under some revision of the entire railway problem which the Squires Government had in hand. Messrs. Reid, who operated the railway under a contract, claimed that conditions similar to other parts of the world had applied here, making their enterprise unprofitable, and at the 1920 session of the Legislature the Government provided for a commission (half chosen by the Government and half by the Reids) to study the problem ; and it arranged for a loan of $1,000,000 to be applied for the purchase of rolling stock and equipment. Subsequently the Government took a more direct part in the actual operating of the road, and the railway question promised to be of first importance at the 1921 session.
Telegraph extension has been gradually carried out until almost the entire seaboard of the island is girdled with lines, the whole being operated as a public utility under Government control. Wireless stations at important points around the Newfoundland coast, and along the coast of Labrador, have been constructed or previously existing ones improved, and plans were in 1921 being made for directional wireless stations at points where shipwrecks are frequent. During the war period the British Admiralty built a high-power station at Mt. Pearl, 6 m. W. of St. John's, which proved of great value and continued to be operated as a naval auxiliary. In July 1920 a wireless telephone installation was established on Signal Hill, St. John's, where Marconi had received his first wireless telegraph signals 18 years previously, and communication was maintained with the liner “Victorian” during her voyage across the Atlantic with the members of the Imperial Press Conference. Negotiations for a contract with the Newfoundland Government for permanent installations were in progress in 1921.
The telephone system at St. John's and an independent line operating on the N. side of Conception Bay were completed, an entirely new equipment provided for St. John's, and steps taken to link the whole of Conception Bay with the capital.
Steamship services with Britain, Canada and the United States were seriously dislocated during the war period, but were gradually restored, though pre-war efficiency had not been attained in 1921.
War Record.—On the outbreak of hostilities in 1914 the Government of Premier Morris took measures to ensure Newfoundland's active participation in the struggle. Simultaneously with Canada's offer of 30,000 men, Newfoundland offered to raise a military contingent of 500 men, and to increase the existing naval service (a branch of the British naval reserve formed in 1899) from 500 to 1,000; these offers were accepted by the Imperial authorities.
The first military contingent proceeded to England with the original Canadian force, being conveyed in the Newfoundland steamer " Florizel " and, being subsequently strengthened, became the Newfoundland Regt. and participated in the fighting in Gallipoli, then served in Egypt, fought in France and Flanders, and continued in the line until the Armistice, when it formed part of Gen. Plumer's army of occupation in Germany. During this period its membership was renewed three times and some 6, soo men, all told, were enlisted, while a forestry battalion of 500 was likewise formed and served in Scotland. Naval enlistment was also carried on and some 2,000 men were recruited for this force, which distinguished itself in every branch of British naval activities but especially in manning small craft and in furnishing boat crews for boarding purposes for the loth Cruiser Squadron, which enforced the blockade off the N. of Scotland. The fatalities in the regiment were 1,251 and in the naval reserve 187.
Political History.—The Government of Sir Edward (afterwards Lord) Morris was reelected in Nov. 1913 for a four-year term, defeating an opposition party composed of the followers of Sir Robert Bond and Mr. William Coaker, the latter president of the Fishermen's Protective Union, a cooperative organization that developed greatly afterwards. A few months later Sir Robert Bond resigned his seat in Parliament, being dissatisfied with some statements of Mr. Coaker, and the opposition leadership was assumed by Mr. James Kent, previously Attorney-General in the Bond Cabinet (1909). A year later Mr. Kent was appointed to the Supreme Court Bench. After the outbreak of the World War party lines were largely abandoned and the opposition combined loyally in assisting in all measures to promote the colony's part in the war. After Mr. Kent's appointment to the Bench, he was succeeded as opposition leader by Mr. (afterwards Sir William) Lloyd, another legal member of the opposition group. In 1917 a National Government was formed, the Cabinet being increased to 12 members, Government and opposition taking 6 places each, Sir Edward Morris continuing as Premier and Mr. Lloyd becoming Attorney-General. A measure extending the life of Parliament, because of the war, was enacted, and twice extended subsequently, making two years altogether. At the end of 1917 Sir Edward Morris resigned the premiership and his seat in the Legislature. He left the colony and settled in England, being raised to the peerage as Baron Morris of St. John's and of Waterford. He was succeeded in the premiership by Mr. Lloyd, who during the ensuing year was created a Privy Councillor and made a K.C.M.G. On the formation of the Lloyd administration, the Hon. Richard Squires, Attorney-General under Sir Edward Morris and Colonial Secretary under the National Government, withdrew and opposed the administration. In May 1919, owing to differences between the Fishermen's Union wing of the Government and another wing, led by Sir Michael Cashin, Minister of Finance, the Lloyd Ministry was defeated and Sir Michael Cashin became Premier, the Fishermen's Union group withdrawing. Sir William Lloyd was subsequently appointed registrar of the Supreme Court. Later in the year the Fishermen's Union party joined with the followers of Mr. Squires, and at the general election in Nov. 1919 this combination carried 23 seats against 13 which fell to the Cashin party, and Mr. Squires succeeded to the premiership. Mr. Coaker, whose following was the strongest of any in the Legislature, took the portfolio of Fisheries, and inaugurated the new fishery policy described above, which continued to be the subject of bitter criticism and unceasing contention.
The legislative programme of the 1919 Government provided for measures for the promotion of the public health ; the erection of working men's homes in St. John's; the enlargement of the Old-Age Pension scheme; a campaign against tuberculosis; the creation of a Department of Education and the improvement of this service; the organization of a Department of Trade and Commerce; the enlargement of the activities of the Fisheries Department; the grappling with the railway problem and improvement of the postal telegraph and postal service ; promoting agricultural development; giving adequate recognition to labour; liberalizing the mining laws; remedying defects in the Prohibition law; caring for the returned soldiers, and reducing taxation.
See Year Book of Newfoundland (1921); Newfoundland Guide Book (1911, ed. D. W. Prowse); P. T. McGrath, Newfoundland in 1911; James P. Howley, Mineral Resources of Newfoundland (St. John's, 1909). (P. T. M.)
NEW GUINEA (see 19.486).—Exploration in Dutch (western) New Guinea was systematically continued after H. A. Lorentz had completed his journey to the Snow Mts. in the S. in 1909. The work was continued in 1910–1 by M. Moszkovski, in 1912–3 by A. Franssen Herderschee, and by subsequent explorers, and plans were laid in 1918 for extended exploration of the territory N. of the Snow Mts. and for a descent from them to the S. coast. The hitherto existing administrative division of Dutch New Guinea between the residencies of Ternate, which included northern New Guinea, and Amboina, which included the S. of the island, ceased to work satisfactorily, and in 1920 it was stated that the island administration would be centred in the hands of one official with headquarters at Manokwari.
Territory of Papua.—Pop. (est. 1918), 250,000 natives, 962 Europeans. For one year, 1918–9, revenue amounted to £72,121, expenditure to £102,962; exports were valued at £176,247, imports at £258,112. Mineral oil has been discovered in the territory; boring was begun under official auspices in 1912, and was continued more thoroughly in and after 1915; it was determined to keep the exploitation in the hands of the Government for a time, and the Commonwealth and Imperial authorities agreed to contribute £50,000 each toward the fuller investigation of the field at Vailala. Gold has been worked or is known to exist in parts of the territory and adjacent islands. From 1888 (when British New Guinea was proclaimed a colony) down to 1916 gold to the value of £1,436,249 was obtained. On Misima or St. Aignan I. in the Louisiade Archipelago gold was little worked until 1914, when it began to be considerably developed, about 70 whites being settled in the island, which became the most important source of gold in the territory. Agricultural industries are developing (see (Australia).
North-eastern New Guinea.—With this territory are included the Bismarck Archipelago (New Britain, New Ireland and other