One of the most difficult times was the 1930s. During this time, there were economic problems worldwide. This was called the Great Depression. It started with a stock market crash in the United States in 1929. Newfoundland was hit very hard by the Great Depression. Many people were out of work or had very low wages. Hunger was a real problem for many people. More and more people were forced to apply for public relief. This was called the "dole." People had to apply to "relieving" or "relief" officers to get the dole. The dole was not money. It was an amount of food people could get from a local merchant or store-keeper. Many people said that you could not live on the dole. Often, people ran out of food before their next "relief order" would allow them to get more.

Most people hated the dole. They wanted work. They wanted to choose what they ate. Some people thought the government was not doing enough. As things got worse, some people felt they could not remain peaceful and quiet. In the 1930s, there were several times when people gathered to march and to riot. They took part in public protests. Unemployed people formed groups to try to get more work and better living conditions. Some people broke the law. Some stole rides on trains. There were raids on stores, and threats to raid more. Some people felt they would only be heard if they took part in violent action. Why?

The simple reason is that people were desperate. But that is not a full answer. In order to understand people's actions, we need to know more about the 1930s. We need to know how bad things were. We need to know how the government dealt with the Great Depression. We need to picture what life was like for the people who lived in these times.

Living on the Edge

Many people in Newfoundland and Labrador have always lived "on the edge." On one side of this edge is a certain amount of security. There is enough food, decent housing, heat and comfort. On the other side of the edge there is little security, hunger, poor housing, cold and discomfort. For many people in this province, it has always been hard to maintain a decent standard of living. People have tried many different things to stay on the safe side of the edge.

During the Great Depression, more and more people were pushed over the edge. Many more were in danger of crossing it. More and more people had to rely on public relief. As more people were forced to live on the dole, they came in contact with the issues and attitudes around it. People talked about who was responsible for feeding the poor. They wondered what people should be expected to live on. They asked whether the government was doing enough to help people. Some people thought that others were getting a better deal than they were.