THE NEW AUSTRALIAN COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7870, 22 May 1891, Page 6

THE NEW AUSTRALIAN COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION.

Mr A. Walker, the representative of the Australian Labor Co-operative Association, who is on his way to the Argentine Republic for the purpose of arranging with that Government a scheme by which a large number of Australians may be settled on land there, ia at present in Christchuroh, waiting for the Tainui's departure. He sails by her for Rio and from there will go to the Argentine. A representative of this paper waited on him last night, and in the course of a long chat he courteously answered a good many questions. He state! that he represented a large body of Ui.io lists, numbering nearly 20,000 men, and a party known as "The New Australia Co-operative Association." The Association has been formed to put into practical shape the system of co-operative ownership by the workers of land and machinery, cooperative conduct by the workers of the industries, by which they must live, and co-operative protection by the workers against the risks which constantly threaten men, women and children with misery and want under existing conditions. Mr W T alker said "The men in this co-oper-ative emigration scheme are composed of all classes, the majority of them being shearers, men engaged in every branch or the wool-growing industry, and a sprinkling of artizans and professional men. These men recognise that it is the weakness, ignorance, and especiaUy the doubts of society at large which are the great barrier that prevent true social order that should insure to every citizen security against want and opportunity to develope the true individuality and unanimity of men. They believe that in a community where all labored for the common good it would be impossible for one to tyrannise over another, as the first duty of each will be the well being of all, and the sole duty of all will be the well being of each, so that men and women will be able to Live in comfort, happiness, intelligence, and orderliness unknown in a society where none can be sure to-day that they or their children may not starve to-morrow. They therefore agreed to migrate to another country, and devote to the movement their possessions and their best endeavors.

The question was asked, " Why cannot this system of co-operation be carried on in Australia ? "

"In the first place," Baid Mr Walker, "conditions are against it. We have to take human nature as it is. We burn our bridges, for we must be united. Men who have been used to work in various parts of Australia would feel inclined to take occasional holidays when the State required their services. Their friends and outsiders generally would flock in and make things unpleasant. A hostile Government and an unfriendly Press would exaggerate our weaknesses, and make the most of any errors committed. Whereas in the Argentine or in any other South American State there is an alien people with different language, different religion, all tending to drive ub into one solid mass. A low rate of wages prevails in tho new country, and a man would not leave our settlement on the spur of the moment. We should risk too much by trying this experiment in Australia. Again, in the Argentine'settlement always has been in communities. There are Swiss, Russian, Italian, Welsh and French communities. They have been treated fairly by the Government, which has assisted them very materially, so that to-day they are in a flourishing condition. The Argentine Government are anxious to secure an Australian colony, wool growing being one of the staple industries of that State. Argentine wool, however, fetching a much lower price in the market than Australian wool. Our men being born and bred amongst sheep, understanding all the points of breeding, can do immense service by improving the breeding of Argentine sheep. The Government have offered ub certain concessions, but not enough for our Eurpose. They have offered to advance md, ttiaohinery, and provißionß for twelve months, but we require something more than this, hence my mission to the Argentine. If I fail there my instructions are to go through the various Republics, practically putting ourselves up to the highest bidder. We shall make the Co-operative Association a self-supporting community, sheep-breeding being the chief industry; but we shall go in for all sorts of agriculture, and fpr wool-spinning, weaving, bootmaking, milling—in fact, everything that can be done by a body of practical workers. Our men are used to carving settlements out of the wilds of Australia, and are armed with that experience which will make settlement in any other country a comparatively easy matter. At the same time we intend to devote our energies to the elevation of the whole community. It will be art and science for all, not for a privileged few." "What do you intend doing when you reach your destination ?" asked our re-. porter. I " I shall interview the Argentine Govern- I ment, and if I secure the concessions required T shall cable to my Association in Australia, and they will send prospecting parties, who will visit the blocks of land open for settlement, but before finally deciding on a site they will submit their judgment to a civil engineer and an agricultural expert. After that 250 pioneer bushmen and builders will be sent over to build the houses, put in the crops, and make ready for the general exodus. " Women will be placed exactly on the same terms as the men, and receive the same wages. The State maintains the children under the guardianship of their parents, so that you see it will pay a bachelor to marry. Whereas in Australia conditions make men remain single, the result being that both there and in New Zealand there are hundreds of single women. I notice from your papers that there is an enormous number of single women here compared with the population." "How will disputes be settled, and what about those who will not work ?'

" All disputes will be settled by arbitration. I look upon the lazy man as a waste product of our civilisation. Still for persistent or unpardonable offences against the well-being or the community anyone may be dismissed by a five-sixths majority of the members. Religion will not be officially recognised by the community, but every individual may worship in whatever manner he pleases. We wish to preserve the individuality of everybody. The headquarters of the Association are at present in Brisbane, but we are forming groups in every part of Australasia, and already number a few New Zealanders amongst us. Although the movement was spoken of before the present strike, that movement accentuated it. The two big bush Unions on strike, numbering 10,000 and 11,000 men, threatened to leave Queensland in a body, but that was imJiracticable, therefore the Association was ormed."