Canada's Verdict The Canadian election results have confounded all prophets.
Hardly less astonishing than the capture by the Liberals of 174 seats out of 250 is the achievement of the Reconstruction Party constructed by Mr. H. H. Stevens out of dissident Conservatives, which fought 179 seats and succeeded in precisely one, that contested by Mr. Stevens himself. The Conservatives, with Mr. Bennett returned but all but four other Ministers defeated, come back just over forty strong, and the Social Credit Party, in addition to capturing Alberta in the federal as in the provincial elections, has also secured two seats in the neighbouring province of Saskatchewan. The Liberals enjoy a majority of 100 over all parties combined. No politician has ever achieved such a victory as Mr. Mackenzie King, whose only embarrassment will be the magnitude of his majority in the House of Commons. It must be remembered, how- ever, that the Senate .is still predominantly Conservative, and its right of veto on measures passed in the House of Commons is absolute. The difficulties thus arising may have to be faced in the term of the next Parliament.
* * *
Previous page
