PARTY WARFARE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2465, 19 May 1915, Page 3

PARTY WARFARE

IN THE BY-ELECTIONS

*' ANSWER MUST BE MADE"

A statement of what the Government propose to do in regard to the by-elec-tion lights was made b,y the Prime Minister to a Dominion reporter yesterday. Ho pointed out also what the effect might bo of victories for tlio Opposition in both scats.

"The action of the Leader of the Opposition in taking ;.n activo and prominent part iii by-elcctions at a time like this, when news of tho casualties to our boys is coming in evory day," 6aid Mr. Massey, 'is scarcely what we had a right to expect. One can hardly imagine Mr. Bonar Law or Mr. Cook or Sir Wilfrid Laurier adopting such tactics. It was quite right and constitutional to hold the election at the proper time, and the other Dominions and States are following that course, but the great struggle has now been intensified and in the case of by-elections I think they, should be left to tie candidates in each case, but when party feeling is stirred up and party attacks indulged in by prominent politicians then an answer must be made. There is the other point to be remembered, that if by an unfortunate c.hanco the Opposition 6ecured these two seats, though I am confident the good sense of the electors will not allow them to do so, then, neither party would be able to carry on, and another general election could scarcely bo avoided. I am quite Euro this is the last thing tho electors wish to see, but there is tho position, and it is just as well to understand it."