WORKMEN'S COLONIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2086, 15 February 1894, Page 43

WORKMEN'S COLONIES.

Referring; to the institutions in Germany known as workmen's colonies, Mr Drage, secretary of the English Labour Commission, in his report on German labour says that they owe their establishment to the efforts made by Pastor yon Bodelschwingh, between 1870 and 1880, to arouse general interest in favour of some provision for workmen out of employment. In 1882 the first colony, that of Wilhelinsdorf, near Bielefeld, was founded, and the number quickly grew until by the end of 1892 they had reached 25, which were scattered about in different parts of the German Empire. These colonies are supported by private benevolence; they are governed on certain general principles agreed upon by the directors, and the history of one is to a great extent the history of all. Able-bodied working men who are out of employment find admission without distinction of creed, nor are discharged prisoners refused, since theaim of the founders of the colonies is the reclamation of the inmates and the revival in them of the spirit of industry. A distinctly religious character is given to the institutions, though due allowance is made for differences of creeds. In all the colonies life is regulated by certain common rules. Labour is paid for, but at a somewhat lower rate than that current in the district. To leave the Berlin colony with any balance in his favour the colonist must earn on an average 6s a week. Colonists from the neighbourhood have the preference if there is a scarcity of room, and those who have been dismissed from another colony cannot be received without the ap-

p roval of the authorities of the colony from which they have come. Every colony is managed by a local committee, and the direct personal supervision is entrusted to an officer with the title of " Hausvater," assisted by two " brothers " or members of an association for training philanthropic workers. A central board of management in Berlin directs the whole undertaking. The majority are farm colonies, and the work done is mainly agricultural ; little is manufactured except articles actually needed for use on the farm or for the personal requirements of the colonists. There are, however, some city colonies, as, for instance, in Berlin where brush and mat making, strawwork, bookbinding, and similar industries are carried on. The details collected by a deputation sent by the Glasgow Association for Improving the Condition of the People with regard to the colony of Friedrichswille, near Reppen, in the province of Bradenburg, show the general management. This is a farm colony under the direction of a " Hansvater " with a salary of 1200 marks a year, and an assistant to superintend outdoor operations with a salary of 240 marks and board. There are also four " brothers " trained at the Rauehaus, a training college in Hamburg, and these six control a number of colonists varying from 110 in the summer to 200 in the winter. Every colonist admitted must remain at least three days, and before admission he must answer a number of questions as to birth, parentage, creed, trade, number of relations dependent on him, number in a position to support him, past life, immunity or not from military service, and similar matters. ' Invalids, inebriates, or persons coming from infected districts are not admitted. Most of the colonists are single men, and the majority are between 30 and 50 years of age. They remain on an average three or four months, none longer than a year, and about 50 per cent, return after having been away for a few months. Only two men were discharged for misconduct in 1891. Four meals a day are given of a substantial nature, but not including meat, except bacon and sausages ; beer is given only on feast days. Services are held every morning and evening, at which attendance is compulsory for Catholics as well as Protestants ; on Sundays Catholics are allowed to go to their own churches outside the colony. The colonies are not, as a rule, selfsupporting ; that at Friedrichswille requires an annual grant of LI2OO in cash and Ll3O in materials from the parent society. The Berlin colony has from time to time required help from the municipality, and has received timely donations from the Emperor and Empress, and from private individuals. Its chief income is, however, derived from the sale of its products, which realised in 1891-92 a sum of 103,154 mark?. The total receipts for that year were 192,679 marks, and the expenses 192,316 marks ; the receipts included a donation of 8000 marks from the municipality. A house-to-house collection is made annually in Berlin under the supervision of the colony chaplain.

The Baptists of New Zealand have 3068 members and 4952 Sunday scholars, 9250 church sittings, and £4-245 of debt on churches. They have 100 local preachers, and admitted) 168 members by immersion last year.