Peter John Cashin
Encyclopedia
Major Peter John Cashin was a businessman, soldier and politician in Newfoundland and Labrador
.
and ultimately served in command of the British Machine Gun Corp. He returned to the family fishery supply business upon being demobilized.
as a Liberal-Labour-Progressive in 1923 before crossing the floor
to join the Newfoundland Liberal Party in 1925 in a dispute over tariff
policy. He served as minister of finance from 1928 to 1932 when he resigned from the government and accused Sir Richard Squires
, the Prime Minister of Newfoundland, of falsifying the minutes of Executive Council
meetings to cover up certain legal fees he had been paying himself out of public funds. His actions precipitated a general election that defeated the Squires government but also cost him his own seat in the legislature. Cashin moved to Montreal
in 1933 returning to Newfoundland in 1942.
which had been brought about in 1934. Elected to the National Convention formed in 1946 to consider the British colony's future.
In 1947, Cashin was one of the members of the National Convention's delegation to London charged with finding out what assistance the British government was prepared to give Newfoundland in the future including development aid or cancellation of the dominion's debt. The results were disappointing as Britain refused to give Newfoundland any promise of financial assisatance.
Nevertheless, he opposed Joey Smallwood
's campaign to join Canadian Confederation
and became the leader of the Responsible Government League
leading it into the 1948 referendum
s on Newfoundland's status.
Cashin was unsuccessful in the referendum, though he was convinced that he had actually won and that the referendum result had been falsified by the British.
in 1949, Cashin was elected to the provincial legislature as an independent. In 1951, he joined the Newfoundland Progressive Conservatives
leading it into that year's provincial election in which the party won five seats. He served as leader of the opposition
until 1953 when he quit the Tories to run again as an independent. Defeated in the election, Cashin then served as director of civil defence for the province until 1965.
Cashin's nephew, Richard Cashin
, was a politician in the 1960s and subsequently an important trade union
leader in the province.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
.
Early life
Cashin, a son of Sir Michael Cashin, joined the Newfoundland Regiment during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and ultimately served in command of the British Machine Gun Corp. He returned to the family fishery supply business upon being demobilized.
Political career
He entered politics winning election to the Newfoundland House of AssemblyHouse of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level....
as a Liberal-Labour-Progressive in 1923 before crossing the floor
Crossing the floor
In politics, crossing the floor has two meanings referring to a change of allegiance in a Westminster system parliament.The term originates from the British House of Commons, which is configured with the Government and Opposition facing each other on rows of benches...
to join the Newfoundland Liberal Party in 1925 in a dispute over tariff
Tariff
A tariff may be either tax on imports or exports , or a list or schedule of prices for such things as rail service, bus routes, and electrical usage ....
policy. He served as minister of finance from 1928 to 1932 when he resigned from the government and accused Sir Richard Squires
Richard Squires
Sir Richard Anderson Squires KCMG was the Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1919 to 1923 and from 1928 to 1932.-Early career:...
, the Prime Minister of Newfoundland, of falsifying the minutes of Executive Council
Executive Council
Executive Council may refer to:In government:* Executive Council , a constitutional organ which exercises executive power and advises the governor.* Executive Council of Bern, the government of the Swiss canton of Bern....
meetings to cover up certain legal fees he had been paying himself out of public funds. His actions precipitated a general election that defeated the Squires government but also cost him his own seat in the legislature. Cashin moved to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 1933 returning to Newfoundland in 1942.
Opposition to the Commission of Government and joining Canada
In his day he was considered one of the best orators in Newfoundland. Upon his return to the island he embarked on a campaign opposing the Commission of GovernmentCommission of Government
The Commission of Government was a non-elected body that governed Newfoundland from 1934 to 1949...
which had been brought about in 1934. Elected to the National Convention formed in 1946 to consider the British colony's future.
In 1947, Cashin was one of the members of the National Convention's delegation to London charged with finding out what assistance the British government was prepared to give Newfoundland in the future including development aid or cancellation of the dominion's debt. The results were disappointing as Britain refused to give Newfoundland any promise of financial assisatance.
Nevertheless, he opposed Joey Smallwood
Joey Smallwood
Joseph Roberts "Joey" Smallwood, PC, CC was the main force that brought Newfoundland into the Canadian confederation, and became the first Premier of Newfoundland . As premier, he vigorously promoted economic development, championed the welfare state, and emphasized modernization of education and...
's campaign to join Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
and became the leader of the Responsible Government League
Responsible Government League
The Responsible Government League was a political movement in the Dominion of Newfoundland.The Responsible Government League of Newfoundland, led by Peter Cashin, was formed in February 1947 by anti-Confederation delegates to the Newfoundland National Convention on the future of the colony...
leading it into the 1948 referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
s on Newfoundland's status.
Cashin was unsuccessful in the referendum, though he was convinced that he had actually won and that the referendum result had been falsified by the British.
Later political career
After Newfoundland joined CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1949, Cashin was elected to the provincial legislature as an independent. In 1951, he joined the Newfoundland Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
For pre-1949 Conservative parties see Conservative parties in Newfoundland The Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a centre-right provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Originally founded in 1949 the party has formed the Government of...
leading it into that year's provincial election in which the party won five seats. He served as leader of the opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
until 1953 when he quit the Tories to run again as an independent. Defeated in the election, Cashin then served as director of civil defence for the province until 1965.
Cashin's nephew, Richard Cashin
Richard Cashin
Richard Joseph Cashin, PC, OC is a lawyer and former Canadian politician and trade union leader....
, was a politician in the 1960s and subsequently an important trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader in the province.
External links
- Peter Cashin biography
- remarks by Peter Cashin at the National Convention Real Audio
- Peter Cashin biography