NEW AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2086, 15 February 1894, Page 17

NEW AUSTRALIA.

INTERVIEW WITH MR P. M'NAUGHT.

Mr Peter M'Naught, deputy-chairman of the New Australia Settlement Association, who is at present on a visit to New Zealand with the intention of touring the colony for the purpose of lecturing on the ethical and economical basis of the movement, was on Tuesday interviewed by a representative of this journal with the view of obtaining some information with regard to the settlement.

On being questioned as to how the movement originated, Mr M'Naught said: It grew out of the unemployed difficulty in Queensland about five years ago. Several citizens there, amongst whom were a judge, a head master of a grammar school, a lawyer or two, and one or two "labour" men devised a scheme of village settlements with the view of meeting the difficulty, and out of that movement grew the inception of the present movement. It was intended to settle on some land in Queensland at that time, but unfortunately land was not to be obtained in sufficient quantities to suit the purpose, and the southern and western colonies were approached, but we found it was just as difficult to obtain land there. SeeiDg that, we turned our thoughts to South America, and three years ago sent Mr Alfred Walker, a Queensland journalist, as our agent to that country to interview the Governments there, the result being that ho got favourable answers from the Argentine and Paraguay Republics. We then sent prospectors — two expert farmers— to travel the country to see the qualities of the soil, climate, &c. After six months' prospecting they decided to accept the offer of the Government of Paraguay of 450,000 acres. Having secured the land, active public organisation was then undertaken, the result being that we have enrolled '3000 members. We have already 209 souls on the land. We have also another lot on the way there, and two shipments ready to go as Boon as we have the means of transit.

Mr M'Naught, on being asked as to how they were getting on at the settlement,} said : Of course we have had troubles incidental to all new undertakings, one of them being a desire on the part of some of the pioneers to infringe some of the articles of the association. An agreement for total abstinence was one of the articles, and it was sought to be infringed. We had thus to face early in our movement the unpleasant duty of expelling members. The latest direct news we have from the settlement is the following cablegram .- — " Drink clique expelled. Good men solid." The promoters of the scheme, Mr M'Naught proceeded to Bay, are trying to solve the labour problem without causing injury to anyone, or seeking aid from anyone. All we ask is fair play and no favour, and, so far as we are concerned, we are simply actuated by an earnest desire to solve the industrial problem which is causing a feeling of unrest throughout the civilised world. We have found that the authorities of Paraguay have treated us favourably, and that without exception all the letters received from the settlement contain favourable accounts of the climate, soil, and affability and kindness of the native population. Letters also tell us that all those who went to the settlement were housed within three weeks of their arrival there. Land was also cleared, crops put in, a brick yard started, and a driving party sent to Corientes to bring on a thousand head of cattle.

In the course, of the interview Mr M'Naught, in alluding further to the movement, said : Our orGfauiserq would rather put the dark side of tho question thin the bright side. Knowing that numerous <HHicultiea.wjiliJb.a*e-&>~,V'y I'accd, We i-ftfß'dosirouh that only men who are prepare'! to hufler and eudure should join us. Ifc is in a I response to numerous requests for an organiser's presence in New Zealand that I have come over to this colony. The promoters ol the scheme are all men who have beeu connected with the labour movement in Australasia for some 15 or 16 years ; therefore they are well known to the men from whose ranks they are enlisting recruits. I may say we are determined, so far as the total abstinence clause of our agreement is concerned, that it shall be enforced in the strictest possible manner, being fully conscious of the evils connected with the admission of intoxicating drink into that or any other community. The promoters are as solid as they were four years ago. There has never been the slightest dissatisfaction with one another's action. The movement has been specially successful in getting recruits from South Australia and from Queensland. In educational matters we have already the services of one or two who have received their training in New South Wales— schoolmasters in the State schools. As regards religion, we intend that the utmost toleration shall obtain. The individuality of the members is to be fully respected bo far as thought, speech, religion, and leisure are concerned. We aim not at the barrack system of communism, bat rather the old home life. Recognising the truth that underlies the saying that "an Englishman's house is his castle," we aim at cottage dwellings rather than the barrack system of living. It m&y be mentioned that Mr M'Naught intends to lecture iii the Choral Hall on Friday night on the subject already stated, and he will be prepared to answer questions on any point bearing on the movement.