WHEREAS, in the year 1934 the self-governing powers of the Dominion of Newfoundland, which was then in financial difficulties, were placed in suspension, and on 31st January 1934 His Majesty was graciously pleased to issue new Letters Patent providing for the administration by Commissioners appointed by His Majesty of Newfoundland and that large part of Labrador which belongs to her, until such time as she might become self-supporting again;
AND WHEREAS, it was then undertaken by His Majesty's Ministers in the United Kingdom that a full measure of self-government would be restored when the Dominion should become self-supporting again and it was expressly upon that understanding that the Government of Newfoundland agreed to the suspension of the self-governing powers;
AND WHEREAS Newfoundland has been self-supporting since the year 1941, is self-supporting now, and is expected to so continue; and the manifold natural resources of Labrador have not yet been developed; and it is expedient therefore that the pledges of His Majesty's Ministers be fulfilled forthwith and the said Dominion to which the Statute of Westminster applies be enabled to conduct her affairs and determine her future through her own elected Legislature in due constitutional manner;
BE IT ENACTED by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
1. It shall be lawful for His Majesty by any Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm to make provision to terminate the suspension of the Letters Patent dated the 28th day of March, 1876, and to revoke the Letters Patent dated the 30th day of January, 1934, and in addition thereto to make provision for the administration of Newfoundland in the manner set forth in the first mentioned Letters Patent so as to empower the Governor to summon a Legislative Assembly in St. John's to resume their Parliamentary duties, and generally to restore the provisions of the said Letters Patent of the 28th day of March, 1876, as if the same had not been suspended.
2. The Newfoundland Act, 1933, is hereby repealed.
3. This Act may be cited as the Newfoundland (Liberation) Act, 1949.
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