Message from Labrador, April, 1949⁴

On April 7, 1949, a nurse with the International Grenfell Association sent a message to the Premier. The telegram was about living conditions in St. Mary's River, Labrador.

There is a very serious food shortage on this coast. To avert starvation of people food must be got here somehow. Babies are being fed on flour, water and molasses water, as there is no milk or rolled oats. At time of wiring only seven bags of flour left on the coast. No milk, meat, vegetables, butter, tea. Large numbers of babies and expectant mothers need help. They need food and all the drugs and codoil⁵ in the world is useless without it. Appeal to you to use your influence to save fishermen and their families before it is too late. The ice is still very firm and only at midday covered with water.

Today, this situation would not happen for many reasons. Places are less isolated than they used to be. It is rare now for any place in Canada to run out of food. People also have access to more kinds of government assistance when in need. There is more planning. Pregnant women and babies have access to doctors and social workers. People feel they have a right to ask for help before things get so bad.

In 1949, it was left to the nurse to appeal for the people. Smallwood answered quickly. He tried to get a plane to bring the food to Labrador. But the weather was too bad. The plane could not make it. The Premier's office tried to find another pilot. When that did not work, Smallwood wrote to Colonel Selway at the American base in Fort Pepperell. He wanted the U.S. Air Force to fly the food in. The government would pay for the food.

On April 8, Colonel Selway got back to the Premier. The Royal Canadian Air Force would "handle the mission." The U.S Air Force would stand by to help if needed.