RAILWAY LOG-ROLLING.

Patea Mail, 31 December 1880, Page 2

RAILWAY LOG-ROLLING.

It is noAV clear that a raihvay policy of log-rolling is being tried by local politicians at Wellington, Speaking at the Chamber of Commerce, Mr Plimmcr said the reason why the West Coast Raihvay Avas not already made is that the members they sent to Parliament Avero too respectable to scramble for the loaves and fishes, Avhereas the Southern members had gone in for logrolling, and had raihvays made all over their districts. He asked the Chamber to affirm the necessity for trying a new policy by adopting this resolution) “ That this Chamber use every effort in its poAver to make the West Coast RailAVay an established fact.” Mr J. H. Wallace seconded the motion, and explained that a sub-committee had obtained certain concessions from Government which some members thought Averc sufficient to warrant them in trying to raise private capital. The subcommittee Avould report Avhen Mr Travers returned on the 4th of January. Dr NeAvman scouted the idea that “ a railAVay along forty-miles of sandy beach” would do any good for the Avorking men of Wellington. Sugar refineries and other permanent industries Avould be far more preferable. Eventually the motion* which appeared vague but had a meaning, Avas Avithdrawn until the expected report is presented.

Such is the state of the West Coast Railway question. It is becoming apparent that so long as no attempt is made in Parliament to get support for this scheme in return for support given to some other scheme, there will be no West Coast Raihvay. That is our opinion, It is deplorable that a colonial Parliament cannot be trusted to examine every scheme on its merits, apart from local jealousies, and apart from the private in-

tercsts of moneyed cliques. But it is only political simpletons, living far from centres of political activity, and retaining a childish faith in human nature, who can go on hoping that justice will be done because justice is duo. The tone of political morality in a colonial Parliament is against the theory that wisdom dwells in numbers. It is the wisdom of the serpent. Those members who “ know the ropes ” can work the ship of state, steering it whither they will. It has been steered a good long while by and for Taranaki. Dunedin gets a short spell at the ropes occasionally, and sets the sheets to suit a South breeze. Then a crew of Canterbury pilgrims get on board, and straightway there is mutiny from South and North, which is put down by the Pilgrims taking into partnership just enough Otago men to work the passage, and then they “ loot” the strong-room between them. Now Auckland says it’s wicked, because Auckland is out of the partnership. The controling hand or hands get the first and largest share of whatever they control, and the virtue of this operation is paraded before the Colony as a wise example of political self-denial. The West Coast Railway will have to be made, not by combining the political strength of the West Coast, but by arranging a combination to vote down

our own jealous neighbours. Wellington should combine with Canterbury and Otago, one or both, against the wTctched opposition of Taranaki, of Wanganui, and of Auckland. Those politicians will have to be defeated with their own weapons. It is the only way of compelling them to recognise honesty as the best policy.