Newfoundland, as a British colony and dominion, held 29 general elections for its 28 Newfoundland House of Assemblies. In 1934 the Dominion of Newfoundland surrendered its constitution to the Crown and ceased to have a legislature in order to be ruled by London through the Commission of Government. The next House of Assembly was not elected until Newfoundland became the tenth province of Canada in 1949, following the 1948 referendum on joining Canadian confederation.