Alfred B. Morine
Encyclopedia
Sir Alfred Bishop Morine (March 31, 1857 – December 18, 1944) was a journalist, lawyer and political figure in Newfoundland
. He represented Bonavista Bay
in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
from 1886 to 1906 as a Conservative and from 1913 to 1916 as a member of the Fishermen's Protective Union
.
He was born in Port Medway, Nova Scotia
, the son of Alred Morine and Mary Dolliver, and was educated in Port Medway and Liverpool
. Morine was editor for newspapers in Nova Scotia
and then for the Evening Mercury in St. John's
. He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Newfoundland assembly in 1885. James L. Noonan
was named to the Executive Council in 1885, which required him to run for reelection: Noonan was defeated by Morine in an 1886 by-election. In 1892, Morine entered the study of law at Dalhousie University
, was called to the Newfoundland and Nova Scotia bars in 1894 and set up practice in St. John's. Morine ran unsuccessfully for a Nova Scotia seat in the Canadian House of Commons in 1892. He married Alice Mason in 1894.
In 1894, Morine convinced the Tory opposition to file petitions against a number of elected Liberals under the Corrupt Practices Act; this resulted in 15 Liberals, including the Premier William Whiteway
, and one Independent member being unseated and the temporary return of the Tories to power. Morine was named colonial secretary in the Executive Council. The unseated members were barred from running in future elections; however, this restriction was later removed when the Liberals returned to power following a series of by-elections to fill the vacated seats. During the brief Conservative time in power, the colony suffered a financial crisis after two banks failed unexpectedly. When the Conservatives returned to power again in 1897, Morine was named to the Executive Council as Minister of Finance. He negotiated a long-term contract with Robert Gillespie Reid
for the expansion of the railway in Newfoundland; the contract was unpopular with both Newfoundlanders and the British government because it was believed to be too generous to the Reid family. At the time, Morine was also acting as solicitor for the Reids. The Liberals were returned to power in 1900, with the railway contract being a major issue in the election. Morine was now leader of the Conservative opposition.
In 1906, he resigned his seat in the Newfoundland assembly, moved to Toronto
, was called to the Ontario bar and set up practice in Toronto. Morine ran unsuccessfully in the riding of Shelburne and Queen's
in the 1908 federal election
. He returned to Newfoundland in 1912 and was elected to the assembly in a by-election held the following year. He resigned his eat in 1916 and returned to Toronto. Morine was named Minister of Justice in the Newfoundland Executive Council in 1919; he was defeated by William Coaker
when he ran for reelection. He served in the Legislative Council of Newfoundland
from 1924 to 1928. He was knighted in 1928. Morine died in Toronto at the age of 87.
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
. He represented Bonavista Bay
Bonavista Bay
Bonavista Bay is a large bay located on the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It opens directly onto the Atlantic Ocean....
in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...
from 1886 to 1906 as a Conservative and from 1913 to 1916 as a member of the Fishermen's Protective Union
Fishermen's Protective Union
The Fishermen's Protective Union was a workers' organization and political party in the Dominion of Newfoundland...
.
He was born in Port Medway, Nova Scotia
Port Medway, Nova Scotia
Port Medway is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Region of Queens Municipality .-References:*Located along Nova Scotia’s scenic on the South Shore in Queens County, Port Medway is a small coastal community, founded on a once-thriving shipping industry and...
, the son of Alred Morine and Mary Dolliver, and was educated in Port Medway and Liverpool
Liverpool, Nova Scotia
Liverpool is a Canadian community and former town located along the Atlantic Ocean of the Province of Nova Scotia's South Shore. It is situated within the Region of Queens Municipality which is the local governmental unit that comprises all of Queens County, Nova Scotia...
. Morine was editor for newspapers in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and then for the Evening Mercury in St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
. He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Newfoundland assembly in 1885. James L. Noonan
James L. Noonan
James L. Noonan was a merchant and political figure in Newfoundland. He represented Bonavista Bay in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1869 to 1873 and from 1883 to 1886 as an Anti-Confederate and then Conservative.He established himself in business at Greenspond...
was named to the Executive Council in 1885, which required him to run for reelection: Noonan was defeated by Morine in an 1886 by-election. In 1892, Morine entered the study of law at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
, was called to the Newfoundland and Nova Scotia bars in 1894 and set up practice in St. John's. Morine ran unsuccessfully for a Nova Scotia seat in the Canadian House of Commons in 1892. He married Alice Mason in 1894.
In 1894, Morine convinced the Tory opposition to file petitions against a number of elected Liberals under the Corrupt Practices Act; this resulted in 15 Liberals, including the Premier William Whiteway
William Whiteway
Sir William Vallance Whiteway, QC KCMG was a politician and three time Premier of Newfoundland. Born in England, Whiteway emigrated to the island in 1843 and entered the law in 1852. In 1859 he was elected to the House of Assembly as a member of the Conservative Party of Newfoundland and became a...
, and one Independent member being unseated and the temporary return of the Tories to power. Morine was named colonial secretary in the Executive Council. The unseated members were barred from running in future elections; however, this restriction was later removed when the Liberals returned to power following a series of by-elections to fill the vacated seats. During the brief Conservative time in power, the colony suffered a financial crisis after two banks failed unexpectedly. When the Conservatives returned to power again in 1897, Morine was named to the Executive Council as Minister of Finance. He negotiated a long-term contract with Robert Gillespie Reid
Robert Gillespie Reid
Sir Robert Gillespie Reid was a Scottish railway contractor most famous for building large railway bridges in Canada and the United States...
for the expansion of the railway in Newfoundland; the contract was unpopular with both Newfoundlanders and the British government because it was believed to be too generous to the Reid family. At the time, Morine was also acting as solicitor for the Reids. The Liberals were returned to power in 1900, with the railway contract being a major issue in the election. Morine was now leader of the Conservative opposition.
In 1906, he resigned his seat in the Newfoundland assembly, moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, was called to the Ontario bar and set up practice in Toronto. Morine ran unsuccessfully in the riding of Shelburne and Queen's
Shelburne and Queen's
Shelburne and Queen's was a federal electoral district in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1896 to 1925....
in the 1908 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1908
The Canadian federal election of 1908 was held on October 26 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 11th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier's Liberal Party of Canada was re-elected for a fourth consecutive term in government with a majority government...
. He returned to Newfoundland in 1912 and was elected to the assembly in a by-election held the following year. He resigned his eat in 1916 and returned to Toronto. Morine was named Minister of Justice in the Newfoundland Executive Council in 1919; he was defeated by William Coaker
William Coaker
Sir William Ford Coaker was a Newfoundland union leader and politician and founder of the Fisherman's Protective Union and the Fishermen's Union Trading Co....
when he ran for reelection. He served in the Legislative Council of Newfoundland
Legislative Council of Newfoundland
The Legislative Council of Newfoundland was established in 1854 when the British Government granted a new constitution to Newfoundland establishing an Executive Council of not more than seven members of the majority party and a Legislative Council of not more than 15 members upon nomination of the...
from 1924 to 1928. He was knighted in 1928. Morine died in Toronto at the age of 87.