LOG KOLLING.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1663, 26 August 1873, Page 4

LOG KOLLING.

(From the Wellington Independent.)

We hare heard a good deal about log-rolling of late Mr. Vogel, in his Statement, gives us an elaborate description of tbe process. He explained bow Jones, who wanted a bridge in his district, would meet Smith who wanted a road for his, and agree with him to reciprocate votes aud influence in the matters ; or something to that effect. They too, again, would meet Robinson, who wanted some similar work for his district, and enter into a like arrangement with him. Thus a formidable coalition in support of each work was formed. Mr. Fitzherbert remarked that he could trace the hand of a maßter of the art in the description, nnd Mr. Vogel returned to the charge with the, perhaps, too obvious retort, that he had learned almost all that he knew of the subject from watching the operations of Mr. Fitzhorbert. All was perfectly good-humored, not to say obliquely complimentary. Each hon. member probably, in his heart, felt as "much gratified at the accu°ation of skill in log-rolling as a Yorkshireman would feel at the accusation of having been too much for a friend in a horseflesh transaction, or a.young lady, at the accusation of being a merciless coquette. We doubt, indeed, whether any member would oare to have the public believe that he was not an adept in the art. Without it he would hardly find it possible to attain the ends that his constituents wish for, and without this, let him be in other respects what he pleases, he must be, in their eyes, but as the sounding braes and tinkling cymbal. For all this, howerer, it|cannotbe doubted the system istoo great an evil,and one too likely to lead to still greater evils, to be viewed with complacency or indifference by any who has the future well-being of the Colony at heart. Owing to it, even at present, questions of more or less importance are decided at every session, not on their own merits, but on the merits of some other question, the connection of which with them is purely fortuitous ; and there is, besides this, a grave danger that, as time progresses, and the Colonial charactor developes its specific features* the illicit skill now applied in the attainment of public ends only will come to bo applied to private ends likewise. Our members at present are, no doubt, models both of private and political virtue ; but are they more so than the men who established American independence ? Yet what is the American Congress now ? To impoße an efficient check on log-rolling is certainly an object well worthy of the ambition of any statesman.