The Newfoundland Ranger Force, 1935-1950

• Main Author: Tuck, Marilyn
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1983
• Subjects: Corner Brook; Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/5558/; https://research.library.mun.ca/5558/1/Tuck_Marilyn.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/5558/3/Tuck_Marilyn.pdf

A new broom sweeps clean. In 1934 and 1935 the British controlled Commission of Government swept aside relics of Newfoundland’s political past and created new administrative structures that were impartial, efficient and economical. The Newfoundland Ranger Force was one of these creations. The Force comprised a total of 204 men in its 15 years of existence, varying in size from 31 Rangers in 1935 to 79 in 1946. This small and elite force was originally intended as a forest ranger service or group of game wardens to develop revenue-producing fur farms in the vast uninhabited interior of the island. But it evolved into a police ranger force with wide-ranging administrative duties designed to improve government services in the outports. -- The purpose of the Ranger Force changed in response to other developments in the government. Commission of Government reformed aspects of Newfoundland’s administration in the hopes of eliminating dependence on political patronage in an impoverished and traditional society. Reforms in the fisheries and customs departments improved the sources of government revenue and professionalization of the civil service itself rationalized its administration as much as society would tolerate. Reorganization of the law enforcement agencies spread government control and services beyond the capital of St. John's to the outports. In the spring of 1934 Commission of Government reorganized the existing police force, the Newfoundland Constabulary, and restricted it to the more heavily populated areas and industrial centres such as the Avalon Peninsula, Corner Brook and Grand Falls. In the fall the Commission agreed that there should be a ranger service as recommended in the Amulree Report. This group of game wardens was supposed to regulate the government beaver farms in the centre of the island. Training the first members of such a Force was begun in the summer of 1935. In the meantime, however, the Commission had increased the duties of magistrates in the rural districts by designating them ...