Richard Squires

John Middleton
Preceded by	Sir Frederick C. Alderdice
Succeeded by	Sir Frederick C. Alderdice
Personal details
Born	(1880-01-18)18 January 1880 Colony of Newfoundland
Died	26 March 1940(1940-03-26) (aged 60) St. John's, Newfoundland
Political party	Liberal Party
Spouse	Helena Squires

Sir Richard Anderson Squires

from 1919 to 1923 and from 1928 to 1932.

As prime minister, Squires attempted to reform Newfoundland's fishing industry, but failed at doing so. He also attempted to diversify Newfoundland's economy. However, his two tenures as prime minister were both marred by serious corruption. He lost the position in 1923 after an arrest for bribery, and in 1932, he narrowly escaped a riot, which forced him from power, and ended democracy in Newfoundland.

While Squires retired after the riot, he continued to campaign against rule by the British Crown under the Commission of Government. He died in 1940, at the age of 60.

Early career

Squires was born in

.

Prime minister

Squires won the election of 1919 over Sir

under the name of the Liberal Reform Party.

During his first government, Squires started the development of the

Humber River

. He also attempted many reforms suggested by Coaker. These reforms would have regulated the fishery but failed because of a collapse in fish prices which was blamed on Coaker's reforms.

Squires's government attempted to diversify the economy and, to this end, financially assisted the failing transinsular railway operated by the Reid Newfoundland Company, finally nationalizing the railway in 1923.

Fall from power

Squires's government was accused of using bribes to win the 1923 General Election. A cabinet minister Dr. Alex A. Campbell was in the centre of the scandal. Several other cabinet members demanded Campbell be forced to resign. When Squires refused they said they would cross the floor. The Attorney General William Warren issued an arrest warrant for Squires. Squires was arrested and later released on bond. He then resigned as Prime Minister.

Opposition

Squires remained in the House of Assembly, as an independent member. In the next year, Newfoundland saw four governments fall. It was not until Walter Monroe won the 1924 election that stability was restored. Squires remained in the background working on a possible return to power. In 1928 Walter Monroe resigned as Prime Minister and was replaced by his cousin Frederick C. Alderdice. In the election of 1928, Squires returned as Liberal leader and defeated the Conservatives.

Governing in the Depression

His next government started out well, seeing the election of his wife Helena Squires as the first woman to sit in the House of Assembly. However, Newfoundland was struck hard by the Great Depression; fish prices fell and an already severe public debt worsened. In 1932 Canada refused his request to join the Canadian Confederation.

Widespread unemployment caused by the Great Depression and allegations of corruption against Squires and his government along with the government's inability to deal with the economic crisis created widespread discontent and political instability.

In 1932, Squires's finance minister,

accusing his fellow cabinet ministers of widespread corruption and Squires himself of having falsified council minutes to hide the fact that he had been receiving secret payments out of public funds. Cashin's charge inflamed a public which had already been seized by discontent due to the deteriorating economic situation in the country.

On April 5, 1932, a large parade was organized by the opposition. They marched to the Colonial Building which was the seat of the House of Assembly. There were over 10,000 people at the protest and things got out of control, leading to the 1932 Colonial Building riot.

The crowd got angry when no one came out to address them. After a short while, several people managed to break into the building. Squires and government members had to escape around the back. Squires was nearly caught trying to get into a cab; he got away only by running through a house on Colonial Street (near the Colonial Building) to a waiting cab on Bannerman Street.

Fall from power

Squires had little choice but to dissolve his government and call an

, ending democracy in Newfoundland until 1949, when Newfoundland joined Canada.

Squires retired but always remained active in his opposition to the Commission of Government. He died at the age of 60, in 1940.

At the time of his death he was Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of British America, one of the few democratic institutions operating during the Commission of Government period.

See also

• General elections in Newfoundland (pre-Confederation)

References

• Carew, S.J. "Right Hon. Sir Richard Anderson Squires, P.C., K.C.M.C." Celebrate Memorial History. Memorial University. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
• Cadigan, Sean T. Newfoundland and Labrador: A History (2009) pp 192–207

External links

• Hiller, J.K. "Squires, Sir Richard Anderson". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
• "Newfoundland: Squires & Lady Unseated". Time. June 27, 1932. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
• Newfoundland in the 1920s

Political offices
Preceded by Sir Michael Patrick Cashin	Prime Minister of Newfoundland 1919–1923	Succeeded by William Warren
Preceded by Sir Frederick C. Alderdice	Prime Minister of Newfoundland 1928–1932	Succeeded by Sir Frederick C. Alderdice