A Successful Socialist Colony.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XVIII, Issue 3106, 31 July 1894, Page 3

A Successful Socialist Colony.

There is a socialist colony in Peru, now forty years old, and numbering about 1,000 members, who have an interna! paper currency based upon time-work. It consists of notes of different colors, representing a minute, an hour, a day, a week, a month, and a year. The unit is the hour note, which, for convenience of calculation for outside trade, is valued at 30 centavos (about Is 2d). From this comes the following ‘ money table ’ : Minute note, |d (nearly) ; hour note, la 2d ; day note, 9s 4d; week note, £2 6s 8d ; month note, £lO 5s 41 ; year note, £123 4s. These notes are given in exchange for all work done. Every adult must work four hours daily, and if he fails except for sickness, muHt “ make it up,” under the whip if necessary. Anyone can, however, work up to eight hours a day, and be paid in time notes for the extra labor. Rations are distributed every day, the same for all, but anyone possessed of time money may purchase more. (From this it may be inferred that the four hours compulsory work are not paid for ) The land quarries, forests, and all factory operations belong to the community. Parents are entirely relieved of the cost and care of children, who are brought up and educated at the charge of the community, and sent to the employ ment they seem most fit for, all employments being paid at- the same rate. No drone is tolerated, and there are few holidays. The colony is thriving, and wears a clean, healthy, and comfortable aspect. The rule is “ Everyone according to his work,” but nothing of a lasting nature is permitted to become a personal possession. An industrious mao may “ buy ” a houseful of furniture, but it still remains the property of the community, to be resumed by it at his death. The colony disposes of its surplus produce in Lima and other markets, and purchases there with the proceeds of its sales commodities it cannot produce itself.