 Lini believed that socialism was inherently compatible with Melanesian societies and customs, including the emphasis on communal welfare over individualism and the communal ownership and working of land.In this, Nyerere's influence is perceptible as the latter stressed the similarities between socialism and traditional African ways of life.Lini was an Anglican priest and believed that socialism held close similarities with Christian values and sought to combine the two as part of a Melanesian way.