The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1910. A COMMUNISTIC EXPERIMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14221, 11 June 1910, Page 4

The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1910. A COMMUNISTIC EXPERIMENT.

Quite a long time has elapsed since we .heard anything about the Australian communistic colony in Paraguay, "New Australia," and its offshoot '• Cosme," founded by a remnant of the original party, that remained true to the communistic principle somewhat longer than the majority. As some years have passed since William Lane's Utopian scheme became a fiasco,' its story may have been forgotten; and the fact that communistic socialism has its advocates at the street corners of the larger centres is some evidence that it is forgotten. A sixpenny book has recently been published in London telling the story afresh; and its lessons should not be allowed to fall into oblivion. William Lane, a brilliant Australian journalist, who had been led away by Ids study of Socialistic writings, by the forco of eloquent tongue and pen laid the foundation of whatever active Socialism there is in Australia to-day. He called, upon the workers of Australia "to attack the competitive system a-nd openly commence a campaign wliich will not cease till Capitalism—that is the private holding by a few of the means whereby all must live—is no more. • * . . » To overthrow the wages system, to idealise Labour, to conquer want, and hate, and greed, and vice, and establish peace on earth and good-will among men." The writer of the book referred to lays at Lane's door the disasters of the great strikes of 1890 and 1891, but we would suggest a doubt of the correctness of this ascription. However that may be, Lane was not content with writing and speaking. He saw that he could not convert the world by these means. A living example of the blessedness of a socialistic state must be offered. Ho was wise enough to see that he could not found such a state in Australia. There must arise some difficulties and trials, which weak-kneed followers could too easily escape from it he tried to put communistic principles into practice in their own land. So he determined to form a colony of his followers in Paraguay, where they would be surrounded "by a people of different language and different mode of life. The colony could not hare been founded under better conditions, for the Paraguaun Government gave more land than he could make use of, free of charge, excellent land, well watered, well timbered, with a railway and water-transport handy. Lane's prospectus of his Promised Land brought him a first party of 2-11 men, women and children, who threw their means into a.' common pot, and this held no less than £30,000. A ship, the Royal Tar, was purchased, purchased because it was expected to be repeatedly used in conveying recruits for the New Australia settlement —and the party arrived safely and was well received by the local Government. As quickly as the Royal Tar could make the voyage, a. second party, less numerous than the first, arrived. While they were on the way there had been a conciderable secession from the original number; for no sooner did they get to work than there were squabbles and quarrels—about the distribution of work, and insurrections against the laws which Lane had drawn up for the good of the community. Apprised of this, the newcomers demanded other terms, and Lane, in disgust, himself seceded, with forty-five followers, and obtaining a fresh grant from the Government founded a separate colony named Cosme. This also "quickly fell into the quagmire of discontent and misery." The main body, we are told, remained in New Australia, elected a new manager, put aside their socialistic notions, and allotted to each man an individual holding, and settled down comfortably enough under the old British system. Consequently, says the author of this latest history •af ilia colons.. '' At the Dresent time.

New .Australia is neither :i. Utopia* Tv.li'ii nor :i. 'hell upon earth.' It, t an average community of sane, solicit, hard-working, self-respecting farmers-*, living at peace with one another, and united in condemnation of the common enemy—Socialism in all its guises,' whether it call itself ' Christian Socialism,' 'Atheistic Socialism,' or merely 'Co-operative Communism.' " It may ho said, of course, that Lane was a visionary and attracted the most excitable) among those who heard him preach the doctrines of socialism, and as they were easily led away by their fancies of a happy communistic state, so they were as easily disheartened to despair and renunciation of its principles. Thati is no doubt true, and in that truth lies the hint that there is no need to he at all anxious about the danger of the spread of socialistic principles in these colonial communities. The excitable people who are likely to imbibe them are hut a small minority of the population; and even most of these would he kept within the limits of sanity if they wero to bear in mind tha fate of New Australia and Cosrne.