This is the traditional Newfoundland term for a snack. The miner's drink underground was tea - a taste that was more "old country" than North American. The Atlantic orientation of eastern Newfoundland was also manifest in the Island's politics. In the referendum held on June 3, 1948, to decide upon Newfoundland's constitutional future the result in Harbour Main-Bell Island was as follows: votes for the system of Commission of government by which Newfoundland had been governed since 1934 - 431 (5.32%); votes for Confederation with Canada - 982 (12.12%); votes for responsible government as it had existed in 1933 - 6,690 (82.56%). In the run off held on July 22, 1948, the result in the district was as follows: votes for Confederation with Canada - 1,431 (17.42%); votes for responsible government - 6,784 (82.58%). In the June referendum the district ranked second among the eight districts giving a majority to responsible government. In the July referendum seven districts gave a majority to responsible government. Harbour Main-Bell Island again ranked second only to Ferryland, the most die-hard anti-Confederation district on the Island of Newfoundland.
