"NEW AUSTRALIA."

Otago Witness, Issue 2056, 20 July 1893, Page 16

"NEW AUSTRALIA."

DEPARTURE OF THE FIRST PILGRIMS.

A REMARKABLE COMMUNAL SETTLE-

MENT. (Peb Press Association.)

Sydney, July 16. The barque Royal Tar, of 598 tons, Captain Logan, sailed to-day for Paraguay with the first contingent of the "New Australia" emigrants, comprising 237 all told.

The "New Australia" movement is an outcome of the recent shearers' strike. The leading man in it is Mr Lane, who has so far successfully engineered the proposed communal settlement, despite the very adverse reports which have been received from many quarters concerning the unsuitability of Paraguay.^- The men in the first batch are, generally speaking, stalwart bushmen, many of them married. The basis of the co-operative organisation is as. follows .—Production: Ownership by the community of all the means of production-in-exchange and distribution; conduct by the community of all production-in-exchange and distribution ; superintendence by the community of all labour-saving co-operations. Allotment : Maintenance by the community of children under guardianship of parents ; maintenance by thecommunity of all sanitary and educational establishments; saving by the community of all capital needed by the community ; division of remaining wealth production among all adult members of the community equally, without regard to sex, age, office, or physical or mental capacity.

In regard to the government of the community,' it is provided that subject to the supremacy of the laws of the State settled in, which all members pledge themselves to observe loyally, the following authority and regulations shall be observed between the members of the community :— Ballot vote of all adult members to be supreme authority. Director, elected by two-thirds majority of general ballot, to be sole executive authority, advised by board of superin* tendents. Superintendents, elected by two-thirds-majority of departmental ballot, to be sole departmentalauthorities,|subject to director. All offices to be vacated annually, and whenever occupants cease to retain the confidence of their constituents.

The regulations affecting the community at large are to be confirmed by a two-thirds majority of all adult members, and departmental regulations are to be confirmed by a majority of all adult members interested. It is provided also that all regulations shall be submitted annually for continuation or rejection. All disputes are to be settled by arbitration. Dismissal from the community must be decreed by a five-sixth majority of all adult members. The sexes are to be recognised as equally entitled to full membership. The wives of members and single women accepted as members by the board of trustees will rank as members equally with men, and will vote and be consulted equally upon all questions submitted to other members of the association. ' Religion will not -be officially recognised by the community, but the individuality of every member in thought;, religion, speech, and leisure, and in all matters whatsoever whereby the individuality of others is not affected, is to be held inviolable. A noticeablefeature in the scheme is that, without prejudice to the liquor question, members shall pledge themselves to teetotalism until the initial difficulties of settlement have passed and the constitution has been established. It is claimed that up to the present over 1500 heads of families, representing about 5000 souls, have joined the association. There is to be one general exchequer, and each member will throw the money he owns into the common purse. The minimum amount, however, is £60, which is required as expenses for shipment.