| Summary: | The papers of Albert Boyle Butt provide a picture of a man who was involved with several of the major events which shaped the political - history of Newfoundland during the Twentieth Century. Butt was a high-level civil servant with the Commission of Government which replaced - responsible government from 1934 to 1949 and an elected member of the National Convention which sat from 1946 to 1948. The Commission - of Government series encompasses an interesting variety of papers including speeches by Thomas Lodge, the Commissioner for Public Utilities - (1934-1937), and a provocative letter by Lodge to a St. John's newspaper c.1949 in which he states the Newfoundland people deserve an - apology from the British Government for the imposition of Commission of Government especially in view of the subsequent futility of that body. - - The National Convention was elected in 1946 to determine the political future of Newfoundland. Its 45 members sat for two years and debated - the options available to Newfoundlanders. These options were placed before the voters of Newfoundland in two separate referenda during 1948 - with the result that Newfoundland joined the confederation of Canada in 1949. This series contains a variety of papers relating to the - Convention including Butt's admittance card, speeches in favour of responsible government by Butt, a proposed provincial budget by J. R. - Smallwood, and a letter to Orangemen concerning the Roman Catholic Church's attempt to influence the referendum of July 16, 1948. - - After confederation, Butt was instrumental in organizing the Progressive Conservative Party in Newfoundland. This series consists of materials - relating to that organization: a draft constitution; poll booth organization; minutes of meetings; newspaper clippings; election handbills; and - correspondence. - - Butt's career also entailed work in arbitration and conciliation. This series includes research material relating to twenty-five cases he mediated - between 1959 and 1977 covering primarily labour ...
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