A Co-operative Settlement.

Evening Star, Issue 8528, 29 May 1891, Page 4

A Co-operative Settlement.

Mr Alfred Walker, a Queensland piessman, who has ueen deputed by the trade unionists of that colony to visit South America in quest of land on which to carry into operation the doctrines of the Socialistic school, was last week in Christchurch, and to a ' Star' representative he unfolded the plans and aims of his associates. He is reported to have said : The new Australia Co-operative Settlement Association is the outcome of a movement which has occupied the minds of the working classes in Australia, particularly in Queensland, for some years. ... The desire for a better state of things has been accentuated by the causes which have led to the present strike, and the shearers are turning their eyea towards South America. They are well fitted for occupying new country, for thi-y have been accustomed to it for years fzi f.-.llowing their avocation. Most of them r:o <=ober men, in the prime of lire. So they formed this Association, and ck-cMe'.t to Vsud au agent through the South American States to aspertain what ivmc ss.ior.3 can n« obtained as to land for setHmg on. J have been chosen to that position. If I meet with success I shall eai-io to Queensland, and what are called prospecting parties will be sent to ohoose a, site for the settlement iu whichever State is selected. That site must be good laud, with a bracing climate, and easy access to the coast. Before finally deciding on one, the prospectors will submit their decision to a civil engineer and an agricultural expert. How is your Association organised?— The basis is ownership by the community of all the means of produotion-in-exohange and distribution; conduct by the community of all production-in-exchange and distribution; and superintendence by the community of all labor-saving co-operations. Children are to be maintained by the community under guardianship of their parents. The wealth remaining after providing for maintenance of children, of sanitary and educational establishments, and all oapital needed by the community, is to be equally divided among all member?, without regard to sex, age, office, or physical or mental capacity, AU members pledge themselves to loyally observe the laws of the State settled in, and, subject to them, a ballot vote of all adult members will be the supreme authority. A director elected by a two-thirds majority of the general ballot is to be sole executive authority, aided by a board of superintendents, who are to be Bole departmental authorities, elected by a two-thirds majority of departmental ballot. Disputes will be settled by arbitration. Dismissal from the community is to be decreed only by a five-sixths majority of all adult members. All offices arc. to be vacated annually, and whenever the occupants cease to retain the confidence of their constituents. The individuality of every member—in thought, religion, speech, and leisure, and in all matters whereby the individuality of others is not affected —is to be held inviolable. The sexes are recognised as equally entitled to full membership. I have quoted all this from the " basis " upon which the Artiolea of Association which are to be signed by all the members, are founded. Our community will be mainly an agricultural and pastoral one, and we expect that our staple product for | export will be wool, and we hope to do soraeI thing towards improving the sheep of the Argentine, which now are very infprior, owing the want of knowledge of thoeo' who breed them. Every member, by the act of joining the Association, agrees to subscribe to its funds all he possesses when the final call is made, except articles of personal use; the minimum total contribution of a member is fixed at LSO. Every member will have to work ; the loafer will not be tolerated. "Groups," as they are called, have bean formed in all parts of Australia, and eyea here in New Zealand, to act as centres oi organisation in their respective districts. 1 may Bay that, besides the unionists, we have got the assistance of many other persons who sympathise with the scheme. About 7,000 men are ready to form the colony. Our members are not all shearers. Some are mechanics, others professional men. In short we expect to be able to start a selfsupporting community. It may interest your temperance friends to know that members pledge themselves to teetotalism till the initial difficulties of settlement have been got over, end the constitution has been thoroughly established. Prohibition will thus, it is expected, prevail in the settlement for two years, when a vote will be taken as to the future course of the community iu regard to the matter.'' How do you propose to establish your settlement a'itor you have selected the site ? —The prospecting parties I spoke of will be followed by a pioneer party of, say, 250 single men, agriculturists, and builders, who will prepare food supplies and houses for the for the balk of the colonists. The latter will follow when things are ready for them. We hope to realise Bellamy's 'Looking Backward.' We know that we shall have hard and trying work, in the beginning at e.ll events ; but our members are not afraid of hard work, and wiil be more than repaid by the improvement in their condition. Higher education, art and science, will be the boon of all, sot the privilege of a few, and will be a prominent feature of the Government. Why do you not try to form your settlement in Australia?— Because conditions are unfavorable. We must stick together. In the Argentine, the outside preesure of race, language, religion, and low wages would weld us into a uolid mass ; men would not leave fo;' reasons, as they might in Australia... where this sort of thing might break up the community, especially as a hostile Government and Fress would be ever on the alert to take advantage of any mistakes which might be made. The Queensland Government have offered to give us seme concessions in the way of land, machinery, and supplies, but not sufficient to counterbalance the disadvantages. __________