The contest was triggered due to the death of incumbent MP Edward Smith.

Because of the vote-splitting, the defeat of the Government candidate did not necessarily mean support for Opposition objection to the Land Bill then before Parliament.

The following table gives the election results: Okey held the seat until his own death in 1918 which triggered the 1918 by-election which was won by Edward Smith's son Sydney.

[4] Okey was later to join the Reform Party upon its formation in February 1909.

Malone was later notable during World War I, when he was killed in action leading his troops during the Gallipoli Campaign.