BRUCE BY-ELECTION

Evening Star, Issue 17328, 16 April 1920, Page 3

BRUCE BY-ELECTION

■ The corrected figures in connection with • "Wednesday's contest are:—John Edie 2,407, James Begs; 2.255. The present majority for Mr Edie is therefore 152. Seventy-three absent voters' permits were .isaued, and these have yet to be counted. Commenting on the "result of the byelection, the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Liberal Leader, said lie was particularly gratified by the success -of the campaign, because Mr Edie had won the seat Tor -his party .off his own - bat, without anv outside assistance and with all the force's of the Government arrayed against him. IMr Edie'a return would reduce the Reform majority from eight to six. and though .this, in Mr Massey's opinion, might not make for stability of Government lie hoped it would assist the Prime Minister .in making up his mind to-the formation of a complete Cabinet without anv fuither delay. BDe heartily Agreed with Mr Massey that what the country required at the present time was a stable' Government hut so far the Prime Minister had called to his counsels only three or four novices in administrative work; while three or 'four of "his old colleagues remaining in the Cabinet were understood t-o be °on the point of resignation. This, Mr MacDonald contended, was not fair to the country, nor, indeed, to Mr Massev him"self. SuTely three months after the" General Election people had a right to know to whom they were to look for administration of the different departments.