FEDERAL HOMES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11898, 23 May 1899, Page 2

FEDERAL HOMES.

TO'THE EDITOR. . Sir,—"Co-operate" has asked a, mostdifficult, question—How to establish and organise federal homes—upon the correct answering of- which I absolutely believe that the future of the race depends,,.. The, more,. step by steo,. I have, studied, the thoughts of land'nationalisation, progreS-1 sive taxation, socialism, and collectivism generally, the more I see that the final success of each must depend upon the altruistic sentiment of the mass of mankind being developed, and this altruistic sentiment must, in its turn, depend upon a system of life in which altruism is more .profitable than egoism. This mode of life i is one in which all have common interests, and each is living in the service of all. The present life, and the co-operative life which I suggest, seem to have a rough simile in the games of chess and draughts —chess with its kings and queens, knights and castles and bishops, and its many pawns, and the simple draughts, in which all have equal rights. The one game presents problems that are very difficult to grasp and to solve; the other seems so simple as not to be worth the playing, and yet when the." Herd,Laddie" comes.round it isfound that draughts .offers a series of problems extending far into the game, which makes it to many far more interesting' than chess. Indeed, players who have given, up chess for draughts, admit the more tarreaching thought, that is needed in the latter. ,In like manner, so far-reaching is Communism that every problem of society, when we travel far enough, finds in it a solution. Under communistic conditions forces and impulses that are at the present time producing endless disaster and misery, would fall into their places as agencies for ■the common weal and the production of individual happiness. Although the final object of the establishment of federal homes is the development of the altruistic sentiment, still this must be accomplished by an appeal almost wholly to the selfish instincts that have been "so largely brought into play by the present competitive mode of life. We must also guard most strongly against the jealous rivalry that is so characteristic of the present system. It has been a well recognised principle amongst 'observers of human nature that there is a tendency for the development of evil characteristics, as the number of persons increases up to perhaps a dozen. After that number these evil characteristics gradually diminish as . the number increases, and are probably as small an influence when we arrive at about thirty or forty as with two to four. About one hundred individuals form a sufficient number to produce a distinct public opinion, which causes the higher emotions to be more effective in controlling people than they are in a very small number. It is. not probable that a co-operative home can generally be commenced with so large, a number as one hundred; - but any attempt that does, not have at least this number as its ultimate, and is steadily growing towards it, I would not consider to contain the elements of success. The plan of two or three families living together I believe to be almost absolutely certain to be attended with disastrous failure.

Possibly the best way. to establish a federative home might be to obtain the co r operation of some individual who is in possession of a moderately _ large piece of land, upon which a largish house situated. This would act as a centre, with which the children's quarters, the various sleeping rooms, kitchens, laundries, dining and social halls, could be connected by corridors. • The house itself would serve, for reception rooms, whilst the new boildings would be of an inexpensive character. The home should be so designed that a part might be built and enlarged as required, the proprietor taking the value: of the property in full paid-up shares, and the whole concern being worked as a joint stock company, in which those who desired to enter , would take such a number of shares as would pay for the additional expense incurred by their residence.' It is not too much to say that in such a home with one hundred residents people could live, in a similar style to what they axe living at present, at one-half the cost, and they would have an enormous increase of social enjoyment and a much greater privacy than they can possibly have under ordinary. conditions. In order to bring people together who wish for this mode of life, possibly public meetings would be a good method; or nersons desiring it might offer themselves as willing to accept communications from those, interested. The number of people who have been in communication with, ourselves shows that there is a widespread discontent with the present mode of life.—l am,-etc., A. W. BICKERTON.