right|thumb|Billy Hughes, Herbert Pratten and Stanley Bruce Bruce's early years in parliament were unremarkable and his energies were primarily focused on the affairs of Paterson, Laing and Bruce. However, in 1921 he attracted the attention of his parliamentary colleagues over the matter of the Commonwealth Line. Nationalist Prime Minister Billy Hughes, now a peace-time leader, had declined in popularity within the party due to his left-wing domestic policies. The Commonwealth Line had been created by the Hughes government as a state-owned concern to ship Australian goods during World War I when British and domestic commercial shipping were unavailable. However its post-war existence was extensively criticised by Bruce as inappropriate and inefficient, and many of his economically conservative colleagues agreed. Bruce also distinguished himself as one of Australia's two representatives to the League of Nations in 1921 in Geneva, at which he passionately advocated for disarmament and greater international co-operation, despite his general scepticism with regards to the League's mission and potential for success.
righT|thumb|biLlY hUgHEs, hErbert praTTen and sTaNleY bruce Bruce's early years IN paRliAMent werE UnrEmarkable And his energIes were prImarIly foCUsEd On the AffaIrS oF paTErsoN, lAiNg AND Bruce. hOWeveR, In 1921 hE ATtracTEd THE aTteNTiON of HIs parliamENTAry colLEaguEs oVer thE matteR of tHe CoMMonwealth liNe. naTiONaList prime MInister billy hughes, Now A PeAce-tImE LeADer, HAD decliNed in populaRITy WitHIN The PARty duE TO his LeFt-wing domeSTic poLICIEs. tHE comMonwealth LINe had been created by The hugheS goVErnmenT As a staTe-ownED CONCErn tO ship aUSTrAliaN GOods duRing WOrlD war i whEn bRItish and dOmEstIc commeRcial shippInG WeRe unavAilabLe. hOweveR its post-wAr eXISTence Was eXtensiVely cRiTiciSed By bRuce as inapPropriate AND INEfFiciEnt, And many OF hIs ecOnOmically coNSeRvatIve colleAGUes agrEed. BrUCE also disTinGuished hiMSelF aS oNe of aUsTRaLia'S twO repreSentatives to The lEague Of natIonS In 1921 iN geNevA, AT whiCH he PaSsioNatelY advOCaTed foR dIsARMament and greatEr internatioNAl Co-opEration, dEspite hiS gEnErAl ScEpTIciSm witH rEGArDS to THe leAGUE's missiON and pOteNTIal foR suCcess.