Register entry 308 - Robert James Whitla
Visited the Bell Farm on April 20, 1894. - Robert Whitla was a prominent Winnipeg politician , wholesale merchant( R. J. Whitla & Co) and served as President of the Board of Trade. During the North West Rebellion of 1885 Whitla served as a Captain with the 90th Regiment. Whitla, who visited the Bell Farm on April 24, 1894, may have been a business acquaintance of Major Bell, who frequently travelled to Winnipeg.
In the Visitors Register, Whitla noted "First goose shot" next to his name. This might relate to his own philosophy on nature. Possibly Whitla made this notation because he had just resigned as President of the Winnipeg Gun Club over the club's inaction to vote in favour of the game law, a law that addressed disciplining those that hunted out of season or "killed far more than he could possibly use". William Whyte was president of the Fort Garry Gun Club and was also firmly in favour of the game law. Here is the quote from the "Winnipeg Free Press": April 16, 1894.
"The protection of game from wanton and indiscriminate slaughter is a matter which should command itself to everyone who posses a spark of humane sentiment,and it should be the duty of every citizen to use his influence directly and indirectly towards the enforcement of the game law.
We cannot but admire the principle which promoted Messrs. Whitla and Whyte to withdraw from a club in which the true spirit of sportsmanship appears to have only an incidental existence.Their actions will be applauded by all who would wish to see the game laws strictly and impartially administered."
SOURCES:
http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/whitla_rj.shtml
RESEARCH BY:
Michelle Cabana, Saskatoon, Sask.