The Evening Star THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1920.

Evening Star, Issue 17327, 15 April 1920, Page 4

The Evening Star THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1920.

The electors of Bruce yesterday broke from the, grip of A Win for the Conservative tracliOppositlon. tions, and returned the Liberal candidate for the vacant seat in the Hoy so of Representatives. Mr John Edie, Mayor of Lawrence, had a comfortable win over Mr James Begg, who creditably carried the Reform standard. The result proves that the political spirit of Bruce has definitely changed, and that it accomplished yesterday what it attempted to do, and almost did, in, December last against their veteran

representative, Sir James Allen. Reform’s electioneering strategy has failed. For the first time in 28 years Conservatism has been ■ scotched in Bruce. It is a'warning to the Reform Government to be as Liberal in performance as they have been in promise in recent years. The process of party erosion , has made a popular start. Mr Massey philosophically accepts the defeat in good spirit, but says nothing about its sharp lesson for the Government.

If Mr Edie has just cause for elation, Mr Begg has no reason at all for bitterness or vexation of spirit. He put up a good fight in a contest that was admirable for the manner in which it y . was carried out . by both candidates. , There was no political temper, and the friendly contestants did not let victory or defeat strain their friendship. That was as it should be always. The selected a good man and re-

jected one of the same calibre .and character. Frankly, we had thought that the local memory of the .great service rendered by Sir James Allen as member for Bruce would have been of more advantage to the Reform candidate, but the majority of the electors evidently desired a change. They voted out a Conservative of the Conservatives and selected an ardent Liberal.

It is to be noted as very significant of the mood of most people that* the miners and workers plumped for Mr Edie and a vigorous Opposition. Wherever there was a colony of workers in the bucolic electorate the vote was “ agin the Government.” Obviously, the workers of Bruce would not have as their parliamentary representative a politician who sees no remedy for the burdensome Cost of Living, and who is inclined to believe that New Zealand is over-developed. Then the people of Lawrence generally v ere faithful to their Mayor, wlidse sterling service in local government is appreciated. Many farmers also supported Air Edie, though- the majority naturally favored the Government candidate. It is clear, however, that the long day of Conservatism in Bruce is at last over, and that the bulk of the electors want progress and a square deal in service as in platform promises. Yesterday’s result does not, of course, materially weaken the parliamentary strength of the Reform party, hut it is the beginning of the process, which time will accelerate, of electoral erosion of Conservatism. If the Government hope to. hold their ground in the country they must assail the cvcr-increasing Cost of Living. Comparisons with conditions in less favored countries will not satisfy the people of New Zealand. Therefore, the result of the Bruce byelection is a lesson for the “ strong and stable ” Reform Government. They must not remain as strong and as stable as the hills, but must move forward like a strong, serviceable river.