Perhaps the best known of all labor organisers in the period 1890 to 1895, Lane was one of three brothers who came to Australia from England in the 1880's. He quickly established himself as a journalist with an eye for an injustice and the poor. As editor of 'the (Brisbane) Worker' he espoused libertarian communism under the guise of 'mateship' and 'co-operation.' Disillusioned with labor consciousness or driven by personal needs, he left the paper in 1892 after producing a documentary novel 'Working Man's Paradise.' He organised the emigration to Paraguay of hundreds of labor stalwarts from 1893, but 'New Australia' foundered on lack of personal preparation, and on the question of authority, Lane being unprepared to give up his power-base. In New Zealand in the 20th century he edited a conservative newspaper and opposed labor in all industrial struggles.
(Ned, the naive 'hero' of the novel discusses 'the social question' with Geisner, who tells Ned 'Where the Trouble Lies,' contrasting State Socialism to 'anarchical communism' based upon 'voluntaryism and opposed to force whether of governments or otherwise,' Ned asks:)
Geisner: "The Anarchist ideal is the highest and noblest of all human ideals. I cannot conceive of a good man who does not recognise that, when he once understands it. The Anarchical Communists simply seek that men should live in peace and concord, of their own better nature, without being forced, doing harm to none, and being harmed by none. Of course the blind revolt against oppressive and unjust laws and tyrannical governments has become associated with Anarchy, but those who abuse it simply don't know what they do. Anarchical Communism, that is, men working as mates and sharing with one another of their own free will is the highest conceivable form of Socialism in industry."
