Francis L. Haszard

HASZARD, Q.C., HONOURABLE FRANCIS LONGWORTH, lawyer, city magistrate, city recorder, master of the rolls, judge, and farmer; b. 20 November 1849 in East Royalty, son of Charles Haszard and Margaret Longworth; m. 12 October 1876 Elizabeth DesBrisay, and they had seven children, Charles F., Louis G., Mary E., Hilda, Helen, Evelyn, and Ethel; Anglican; d. 25 July 1938 in Charlottetown. Haszard, a Liberal, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1904 for 4th Queens. He was re-elected in the general election of 1908. He was appointed to Executive Council on 23 January 1905. Early in 1908, Haszard became Leader of the Liberal Party following the death of Premier Arthur Peters* on 31 January, and he led the Liberals to a narrow two-seat victory in that year's general election. Haszard served as Premier and Attorney-General from 1908 until, on 16 May 1911, he retired from politics, after having been appointed Master of the Rolls and Judge of the Supreme Court. Premier Haszard was cautious with his legislative program as both parties were at almost equal strength in the Legislature. Following Haszard's appointment to the Supreme Court, new Premier H. J. Palmer*' and fellow' Liberal F. J. Nash* were both defeated in by-elections held in November 1911. As a result, the Conservative Party, led by John A. Mathieson*, assumed power. Two major issues facing the Haszard Administration were the level of representation in the House of Commons and the level of federal subsidy to the province. At the time of Confederation, the Island had six federal seats. By 1904, its representation had been reduced to four. In response to the representation question. Premier Haszard stated that he would fight for more representation in Ottawa to the point of rebellion. In the spring of 1910, Haszard's government passed a resolution that called for a fixed number of representatives for each province. Furthermore, the resolution stated that the minimum representation for each province should be set at the number awarded at the entry into Confederation. In 1911, despite Haszard's efforts, the number of federal representatives for the Island was reduced trom tour to three, due to a decrease in the province's population. The effort to increase the level of federal subsidy also frustrated Haszard, and the province received a much needed additional annual subsidy from the federal government of $100,000 only when Mathieson took office. Haszard was not entirely frustrated by the federal government as a new terry, the Earl Grey, commenced service on 30 December 1909. He continued to make the case for increased federal support and represented the province at the Maritime and Inter-provincial Conferences in 1910. Haszard, in tune with public opinion, strongly opposed the use of automobiles on Island roads. His reaction to the challenge of the automobile was to pass legislation banning them outright. It was 1913 before the ban was partially lifted. Haszard received his early education at the local school in Charlottetown. He attended Prince of Wales College, and later studied law' with his uncle, John Longworth. Haszard was called to the Bar in 1872, following which he became the junior partner in the firm of Longworth and Haszard. He remained in the firm until 1883 when Longworth retired, and subsequently practised law without a partner for a number of years. In November 1890 Haszard joined a law practice with L. H. Davies*. This partnership lasted until 1901 when Davies was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. In 1902 Haszard formed a partnership with Gilbert Gaudet. For a time Austin Fraser studied with this firm. From 1893 to 1900, Haszard served as the magistrate and recorder for the City of Charlottetown. In 1911 he was appointed Master of the Rolls and Judge of the Supreme Court. He retired from the bench in 1930. Though the major pursuits of his career w»ere law and politics, Haszard also had a deep interest in agriculture and maintained a farm in Bellevue. Haszard was active at the community level. At the outbreak of the First World War, Haszard reorganized the local Red Cross society. He served as head of the Red Cross Society for a number of years, and later was named honourary president of the Red Cross Society. One Red Cross initiative spearheaded by Haszard and Dr. Ira Yeo was the establishment of a Child Welfare and Public Health Branch late in 1920. The Branch began medical inspections in Island schools. Haszard was a director of the Charlottetown Driving Park, and in 1907 and 1908 he was the president of the Prince Edward Island Exhibition Association. Francis Haszard died 25 July 1938. Elizabeth Haszard, the daughter of Lestock P. W. DesBrisay, was born ca. 1852 and died in 1941. Haszard's ancestors had moved to the Island follow'ing the American Revolution. The Haszards were United Empire Loyalists and therefore left their home in Rhode Island for a grant of land on Prince Edward Island. Haszard's father was a Member of the Legislative Council.