598 PARLIAMENTS OF THE DOMINIONS [parr 11t
abolish it passed the Lower House in 1874 and 1875, and
it was abolished by a Provincial Act in 1876.
In the case of British Columbia, in 1856 two Chambers
were created in Vancouver Island in virtue of the Governor’s
commission; these disappeared, however, on the union of
the island with British Columbia, which had itself, under
the Act 21 & 22 Vict. c. 99, a single Chamber partly elective.
For the united Colonies a single Chamber was created in
1866 under the Act 29 & 30 Vict. ¢. 67. This was replaced
in 1871, in virtue of an Act, No. 147 of 1871, passed by the
Council as reconstituted by Order in Council of August 9,
1870 under the Act 33 & 34 Viet. ¢. 66, by a constitution
the same as that of Ontario, which by the British North
America Act, 1867, was created with a single Chamber only.
The later provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, created
in 1905 by Acts of the Canadian Parliament, 4 & 5 Edw. VII.
cc. 3 and 42, have also single Chambers only.
In the case of Newfoundland the nominee Legislature has
never effectually opposed the Lower House. Its numbers
are unlimited, but beyond the number of fifteen appoint-
ments must, under the letters patent of 1876, be made by
the King and not by the Governor. This legal difference
does not, however, correspond with any difference in the
constitutional position ;* the Upper House is not entitled
to oppose the will of the people, and it was added to at
the request of Sir Robert Bond in 1904, in order to secure
that there should be no resistance to the passing of the
French Treaties Act of that year, and in 1909 at the request
of Sir Edward Morris, to redress the balance in view of the
fact that when he took government the House was mainly
composed of nominees of the preceding Ministry, and
difficulty in passing legislation was anticipated unless the
House was strengthened. Under Sir Robert Bond’s Minis-
try the Upper House rejected various measures (as. for
* The Governor could not add members against the advice of ministers,
nor would the Crown do so; on the other hand, the Crown in Newfoundland
having the responsibility of appointment, would doubtless refuse to make
an unsuitable person a member.
