Great dissatisfaction prevails here, owing to the way that railway tickets for labor on the Hall’s Bay line are being distributed. Applications from the men of Spaniard’s Bay for labor on the said line appear to be ignored by Messrs. Whiteley and Dawe, and tickets refused, whilst the adjacent settlements are receiving them every week. The consequence is, the men of Spaniard’s Bay are not a little dissatisfied about the matter. Why not distribute the tickets proportionately among the settlements? Have not our two representatives brains enough to know that the way they are now acting in giving out tickets is not at all satisfactory.
Come Whiteley, Dawe, this is not fair.
To keep railway tickets from coming here.
And send them to our neighbors near,
Whilst we are kept without our share.
If you’re going already to deviate,”
You’ll find you’ve made a great mistake.”
For partiality is sure to bring,
The griefs to which it is akin.
So draw the line, it’s time to blay,
And send us tickets for Hall’s Bay,
And don’t be keeping us in suspense,
You had our votes,now recompense!
Spaniard’s Bay, Feb. 13, 1890.
A. B. C.
Hall’s Bay is quite the distance from Spaniard’s Bay even today, being located on the Baie Verte peninsula, more so in the 1890s.
The complaint is that they were promised via election campaign promises that so a percentage of men would be hired and that promise was not fulfilled. Election histories are as most know filled with broken promises, it’s almost a cliche. Adding insult to injury they feel their applications for work are being ignored by the people who promised work.
In typical Newfoundland style what a better way to take down someone but with the use of humor, hence the little verse.
Forgotten History of Spaniard's Bay 