Trade Union Expenditure on Unemployed Benefits since 1860

Trade Union Expenditure on Unemployed Benefits since 1860Author(s): George H. WoodSource: Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Vol. 63, No. 1 (Mar., 1900), pp. 81-92Published by: Wiley for the Royal Statistical SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2979724 .

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1900.] Trade Union Expenditure on Unemnp7oyed Benefits. 81

At p. 699, ibid., on t.he second line from the end of Note 7 of Appendix, " comma " after " 2 23."

At p. 130, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, vol. lxii, refer to Appendix, Note 10.

At p. 373 ibid., line 1, before " The relation " read " III." At pp. 378 and 379, ibid., Note 13, refer to " p. 534, ibid." At p. 550, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, vol. lxii,

paragraph 1, for "j" read "j -. c." Ibid., line 8, for "3-)=."

read "" 2'

At p. 551, ibid., paragraph 4, for " bound " read " bounds." Ibid., note 37, after " definition " dele comma.

F.Y. E.

II.-Trade Union Ezpenditure on Unemployed Benefits since 1860.

By GEORGE H. WOOD.

DURING the course of the discussion on the paper read to the Society by the present writer on 19th December last, Mr. George Howell suggested that it would be advisable to test the average percentage there given of Trade Union members annually unemployed, by tracing the variations in average expenditure of Trade Unions on unemployed benefit. The question to be decided is, " whether the years denoted as being depressed or the opposite by the percentage unemployed, as given in my former paper, were actually times of depressed or expanding trade ? " In other words, "were the data on which the average percentage unemployed results were based, of sufficient value and importance to make them a reliable and accurate record of the variations in the state of employment from 1860 to 1890 ? "

Only a few Trade Union records go back so far as 1860, and a few more commence in 1863-69, but a large number date from 1876-77. We are thus, at the outset, confined to at most twenty- three unions whose records are useful for the present purpose, though it would be interesting to test the following results for 1876 onwards by the light of the records which commence in that year. The present paper is confined to the examination of continuous records commencing at or before 1869. The whole of the figures are taken from the Reports on Trade Unions. The following table shows these variations for twenty-two unions:-

YOL. LXIII. PART I. G



82 Miscellanea. [Mar.

TABLE I.-Showing the Average Expenditure per Head of certain Trade Unions on Unemployed or Travelling Benefit, 1860-96.

1860. 1861. 1862. 1863. 1864. 1865. 1866. 1867.

s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Amalgamated Carpenters } 93a 7 7 5 8i 5 -A 1 31 1 21 3 4 13 I andJoiners .... 13............... 1 4 2

Co-operative Smiths ............ 2 61 1 9 7 1 3 104 2 1* 2 11 17 44 22 -4 Amalgamated Engineers .... 7 53 11 11 32 3* 35 1 11 4* 9 1 33 93 34 11 Steam Engine Makers ........ 6 21 6 23 17 4 25 7* 10 -_ 5 -i 5 1 9 7* Friendly Ironfounders ........ 9 10* 29 31 46 10* 33 14 18 11i 15 6 26 9 65 1 London Bookbinders ............ 14 94 24 10i 21 10* 12 103 6 - 7 3A 7 -4 15 3A

Society Compositors 1 93 5 8* 7 13 3 7* 8 73 12 -4 11 2 15 73 Warehousemen's Ph.lan- } 9 31 15 8 6 11 2 3 13 2* 4 1 9 5 9 8

London Zinc Workers ....... 1 10* 8 61 3 3- 1 9 - 9 4 4 5 7 Associated Blacksmiths ........ 1 2* 2 1* 4 11 1 101 - 54 - 9i 26 24 18 11

,, Ironmoulders .... 25 2* 51 5 53 2 36 4* 16 1* 31 33 32 -* 94 -*

Averageof above unions.... 7 42 I5

IO i8 9 13 IO

8 zL

5 54 i6 -* 27 71

United Bricklayers (tramp 5 6 relief) ............................

General Carpenters and 2 9i 1 -_ 6 7 Joiners.........-..-.29..1-...7

United Plumbers (unem- -

ployed travelling) ........ Alliance Cabinet Makers .- - - -_ London Upholsterers - - _ -.-.6 7 Amalgamated Tailors (tra- -

velling) .... J... Conch Makers - - - - - _ 19 434 Boiler ..-.....-.-.- 34 3* Glass Bottle Makers, Yorks. - - - 27 7 Typographical Association - - 12 7 1- 5 9 6 1* 9 71 Bradford Overlookers ............

Average of above eleven -

unionsf l

Average of all unions in} 7 4i 1 10 i8 9 13 8* 8 - 5 3 14 It ZZ I"l table ...............

Percentage unemployed in i-i 4z , -4 -6 20 -0 73 fifteen unions* ...........4.8 7.8 574 .6 3I0 74

Board of Trade percentacze -

unemployed (all trades)* f

* Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, December, 1899, p. 645 ff.



1900.] Tradle Union Expenditure on Unemployed Benefits. 83

TABLEM I Contd. -Average Expenditure per Head on Unemployed or Travelling Benefit.

1868. 1869. 1870. 1871. 1872. 1873. 1874.

s.9d. S. d. S.d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Amalgamated Carpenters} 13 5* 19 11 19 9 13 2* 6 2 4 10 4 -

Co-operative Smiths........18 1* ii 8* 7 1 27 8* 3 1 3 6* 3 5 Amalgamated Engineers ...39 9* 35 9* 18 10*1 6 6* 7 5* 7 4 99 Steam Engine Makers .....25 1* 25 10* 20 1 0* 6 6* 3 5* 4 61 5 Friendly Ironfouanders .....64 1t 55 4* 30 1* 10 101- 5 5* 13 4 17 11*1 London Bookbinders........21 2* 23 9*L 30 9* 11 8*- 9 -4 17 4* 15 3*

Society Compositors 14 41* 16 9*- 23 11. 11 8*- 7 11* 6 6 7 1 Warehouasemen's Phi lan -i 56 8 - 39 87 0

thropic....6*.88.18-.3...87*.810*.116 London Zinc Workers ..... 1 6* 811* 3 6*1 2 9* - 9 2 6* - 6 4 Associated Blacksmiths ..... 8 6* 3 1- 2 91 2 2 3 1* 1 2:4 7 4*

Ironmoulders .. 43 1 19 -* 11 5* 5 1 10 4* 14 1 25 et

Averageof above unions .... 23 20 3*2 '7 - 9 3* 5 II* 7 7*4 9 9 '

United Bricklayers (tramp~ 7 3* 2 8* 1 9 1 1 1 - 1 3* 1 14 relief) ...............

O- eneral Carpenters and 71 i1 t 1 1 3 311 29 Joiners ...1*96*141*115*..-..31*.29*

United Plumbers (unem-~ - 4* - 4* - 8* - 5* - 3*1 - 5* -3- ployed travelling) . f...

Alliance Cabinet Makers ... I11*4 9*16 9* 111* - 3 - 2* -li London Upholsterers........22 7 17 - 9 8 4 9 9 2* 5 10* 91 Amalgamated Tailors (tra- 1 *1 3* - 11* - 11*L 1 -* 1114l

yelling) ............... Coach Makers ..............20 8*1 18 5* 19 3* 14 10*- 10 1*L 8 4 10 1 Boiler,............. 6 11* 5 8*5 4A 34 1 3* 2 -* 2 4 0-lass Bottle Makers, Yorks. 32 9* 5 5* 5 1* 7 1*L - 43 - 14 - 7 Typographical Association ... 7 9* 9 1 7 2* 5 1 4 9* 4 3* 6 43

Bradford Overlookers ....... 4 -* 3 8 5 6*1 2 8* 2 5 12 2* 9 -41

Average of above eleven ~ 7 1 6 Il4 4 10 3 1 3 6 4 -*1 unions .............

tveable . }lluiosi 17 4*13 8*12- 7' 4 6* 5 7 6i'

Percentage unemployedcl 8-'n42 43 i8 -6 z 7 fifteen unions* ......... -1 '' 4' 7

Boardl of Trade percentage I~ unemployed (all trades)* f

*Journal of the R?oyal Statistical Society, December, 1899, p. 645 if.

o2




TABLE I Contd.-Average Expentditu&re per Head on Unemployed or Travelling Benefit.

1875. 1876. 1877. 1878. 1879. 1880. 1881.

s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. A-malgamated Carpentersl 3 i 38 28 3 48 2

and Joiners...64.34.5-.18.329.48.205 Co-operative Smiths........ 9 74 23 94 11 14 20 8 47 84 11 8* 5 2*2 Amalgamated Engineers ...14 4 20 2*4 24 2 33 34 68 -1 27 94 17 4x Steam Engine Makers 7.... 1* 17* 6-4 26 2* 41 114 17 3 11 11 Friendly Ironfounders .....18 1* 28 -* 40 2* 61 - 93 8* 41 104 32 8* London Bookbinders........ 5 6 13 8* 32 10* 31 64 29 24 19 4 8 21

Society Compositors 4 5 10 44 11 91* 14 34 21 9*1 19 10 19 - Warehousemen's Philan- 10 104 47 24 59 71 69 34 59 4 30 11 23 lt

thropic ..............I London Zinc Worlkers ..... - 10* 1 10* - 94 - 2*' 2 114 3 11* 3 7 Associated Blacksmiths ..... 6 - 5 10* 17 5* 16 7 33 34 7 - 3 3

Ironmoulders .... 32 94 35 94 35 8 57 64 68 11* 32 54 25 4*

Average of above unions.... io 64 i 8 5 23 3. 31 5 45 5 721 64 '5 5*

United Bricklayers (tramp~ -94 1 24 111 4 11* 1724 3 34 111* relief) ... ...I

General Carpe-ntie-r-s..and 23 2- 3l 1 9 28 - 265 1 Joiners .........2342- 3114129 28-4.254.184 United Plumbers (unem- -14 - 2 - 34 -9 1 7 1 3 1 2

ployed travellinig). Alliance Cabiuet Makers .... 1 9 4 6* 56*10104IJ26 2*17 2*12 -

London Upholsterers..... 8 94 9 11 15 2 16 1 23 74 25 9 14 14

Amalgamated Tailors (tra.1 2 11 22 i 2 5* 2 1A4 velling)........2.294...26.3.... Coach Makers.............. 9 64 13 64 19 54 23 -* 44 84 13 114 13 24 Boiler,..............14 11 20 6 15 -422114f37 8422 24 2 44 Glass Bottle Makers, Yor'ks. - 6* 1 44 7 84 53 7 61 10* 41 54 27 10* Typographical Association ... 9 3 11 - 9 2 12 1 15 34 12 14 10 94l Bradford Overlookers........ 5 114 6 54 8 54 14 11 15 7 6 24 14 10

Average of above eleven 5 i* 6 7i 8 ij i5 5 24 I 15 8 io 94 unions .J...........

Average of all unions in 7 ~ 93 x z * 6 15 7 Z3 5 34 9 i8 7 13 '

table ...............

Percentage unemployed in V4 16 44 '1 1Z5 '3 34 fifteen unions* ...4..............0 593 *

Board of Trade percentage ----

unemployed (all trades)*~

*Journal of the Royal Statistical Society December, 1899, p. 645 if.



1900.] Trade Union Expen~diture on Unem.ployed Benefits. 85

TABLE, I Contd.-Average Expenditure per Head on Unemployed or Travelling Bene.fit.

1882. 1883. 1884. 1886. 1886. 1887. 1888.

s. d. s. d. a. d. a. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Amalgamated Carpenters 14 3 4 - 89 7 - 27 58 4- and Joiners.j.3.14.4.8.9.27...2...258..4.. Co-operative Smiths ........ 3 - 5 4* 68 11 - - 36 5* 14 1 Amalgamated Engineers .... 9 6* 14 -* 24 7j 30 5* 32 5* 31 -* 20 4ji Steam Engine Makers ..... 6 8*t 8 3 12 9* 19 11 22 11 23 61 11 9* Friendly Ironfounders . 18...i 3* 19 2* 30 4* 43 7 54 7 37 2* 20 8* London Bookbinders .......15 1* ]7 5 14 8 21 10* 27 41 17 1* 13 4*

1) Society Compositors 17 1 14 2* 13 if 16 8* 16 6* 13 8* 14 11* Warehousemen's Philan.1 34 5* 30 2* 27 10* 28 5* 21 4* 17 4* 23 4

thropic............... London Zinc Workers ..... 9 7* 3 4* 5 7* 19 6 19 8* 36 7* 44 4 Associated Blacksmiths ..... 2 -* 4 -* 28 2* 35 -* 28 - 24 5* 9 41

,, Ironmoulders .... 35 5* 15 7* 51 8* 61 11 51 7* 32 7* 15 4k

Average of above unions .... 1 5 -* I13 5* z 6 ii* 24 5* 30 1* z26 I0 of I9 21

UnitedBricklayers (trampi 2 6 - 10* -10* - 10* - 10* - 4* - 3* relief)...............

General Carpenters and 1 l 15 05 1 4 1 j 11 5I Joiners . ....f.1211 115*1...15k.151..111... 1 United Plumbers (une- -lt -1 9* 2 3 3 3* 2 1 111*t

ployed travelling) ..J.. Allance Cabinet Makers .. 11 1* 15 6* 24 6* 29 ll* 46 -k 25 1* 15 8* London Upholstereirs........15 9 39 6* 32 3 43 11* 22 7 14 3 15 10t Amalgamated Tailors (tra.1 1 11 2- i o i 17 veiling).....11*2.-*24.111*110*19*17* Coach Makers .............11 1* 11 2* 13 -* 18 4 22 lit 17 1* 19 3* Boiler J) ........................ -9 2 9*3911*i30 6*27 11 17 8 5 9 Glass Bottle Mfakers, Yorks. 12 1* 17 2 38 7 32 4* 77 4* 20 4*i 24 l* Typographical Association .. 6 7 6 5* 6 3* 7 23 7 -* 7 1L 8 6 Bradford Overlookers ....... 8 5 6 1 3 ll* 7 6* 6 5k 8 10* 4 7*

Average of above eleven 1 7 8 I0 4* 15 8* 17 3* 20 I* II 5* 10 3 uinions ..f..........

Average of all unions in table ............... I 4* 1I 10* 21 4* 2010*t 25 it 19 2 14 8*

Percentage unemployed in I-z 22 ,8 95 -z 45 fifteen union3s* ............. 7'40 898 95 74 45

Board of Trade percentage 8.61'8 unemployed (all trades)*f ~ 6 48

J .ournal of the Royal Statistical Society, December, 1899, p. 645 if.




TABLE I Contd.-Average Expenditure per Head on Unemployed or Travelling Beneflt.

1889. 1890. 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896.

8. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. 8. d. 8. d. s. d. s. d. Amalgamated Carpenters} 14 2* 9 3i 10 2 13 11 14 91 19 2A 17 6 6 9.

andJoiners 93 213 11.................... Co-operative Smiths ............ 3 5* 14 7* - - -

Amalgamated Engineers .... 9 9* 9 10* 15 93 32 10 36 51 36 9* 27 61 15 4* Steam Engine Makers ........ 5 -4 4 7* 7 8* 17 9* 25 1 25 1* 17 5 7 8* Friendly lronfounders ........ 7 8* 11 1 19 10 38 11A 43 2 49 2* 33 11 12 9* London Bookbinders ............ 8 5* 7 2* 7 11* 42 9* 26 3* 33 9 33 11 21 6*

,, Society Compositors 12 7* 12 7* 23 91 24 11* 24 9 34 7 24 3 20 11* Warehousemen's Philan- 19 2 11 9* 17 10* -

thropic................ Lorxdon Zinc Workers ........ 12 5t 7 9* 5 5* Associated Blacksmiths ........ 5 3 4 3* 5 6* 16 3* 25 3* 31 24 17 7* 10 5

Ironmoulders .... 7 1* 12 -* 24 10* 36 10* 39 6 34 101 33 4L 14 7t

Average of above unions .... 9 71 9 -* 13 11* -t

United Bricklayers (tramp} - 3* - 21 - lf - 41 - 51 - 31 - 11 - 2i relief) .....2*..1..............1...2 Geneilal Carpenters and 7 8* 3 9A 4 2i 3 11 3 2 4 4i 6 11 3 1 Joiners ............................ 4

United Plumbers (unen. 1 1 1 1 1 2i 3 6i 1 IOJ 2 31 1 31 1 21 ployed travelling) ........t 1 12 3 * 10 2 *1 1 * Alliance Cabinet Makers .... 6 - 3 2* 7 9 11 7 18 4j 17 2* 12 9* - 9 London Upholsterers ............ 15 10* 6 3* 12 1 - - -

Amalgamated Tailors (tra-} 1 - - 11* 1 -j - 8* - 10k - 9* - 9* - 8* velling) ...............

Coach Makers .................... 14 3 9 6i 9 3* 13 5 13 11* 15 51 13 11t 18 2* Boiler , ..................... 2 3* 6 10* 9 9* 18 6* 25 3* 24 83 20 10* 18 4* Glass Bottle Makers, Yorks. 27 41 13 8* 8 2* 28 -4 40 61 64 11* 58 4* 25 9* Typographical Association .... 6 2* 6 -* 4 7* 4 9* 8 6* 11 73 13 7* 13 10* Bradford Overlookers ............ 5 9* 2 11 6 3 -

Average of above eleven 8 - 4 1I 5 -

- - - - -

unions ........................

Average of all unions in | table .3.............. 83 - 9 11 18 4*, 19 71 22 7 i8 7* II 42

Percentage unemployed in :Z I 190 3-04 - - - - -

fifteen unions* ................

Board of Trade percentage~ 2-0 21 - ,5 7- ' -6 3 unemployed (alltrades)* f 212 f35 6z 5 6@9 | 6@66 34

* Journal of the Boyal Statistical Society, December, 1899, p. 645 ff.



1900.] Trade Union Ex1penditure on Unemrployed Benefits. 87

Any such statistics as these are only comparable over short periods, because Trade Unions have made repeated changes in the amounts per week payable to out-of-work members, and these changes cannot be traced. For example, the London Society of Compositors paid as follows:-

S. 1848-66 .... 8 per week for 13 weeks onliy.

'66-79 .....t.o ,t

'79 to date IX ,, 16 ,, (91. i s. per year).

It is not certain that all Societies have increased their unemployed benefits, but the fact that changes have been made prevents comparison over long periods, and we are unable to tell from these figures whether the numbers requiring relief have increased or not. It is certain, however, that the burden of the unemployed on those remaining in employment has increased. What the averages at the bottom of this table do, is to enable us to locate the depressed and expanding years. It will be compara- tively safe to compare a given year with that which immediately precedes or succeeds it, as any change in the scale of payments in an individual Union is practically lost in the average of twenty- two Unions.

The two bottom complete lines of the table are those which it is desirable to compare, and the signs of depression or good trade may be tabulated thus:

Period. Lowest Expenditure and Percentage. Highest Expenditure and Percentage.

1860-65 1865 Expenditure 5s. 3d. 1862fExpenditure 18s. 9d. I Percentage 2.oi 1 Percentage 7-8 i

'66-72 ,72 Expenditure 4*. 6kd. '67 Expenditure 22s. 113d. 6Percentage .... vo6 '68 Percentage 85 x

'73-81 '73 Expenditure 5s. 7d. ,79f Expenditure 34s. 9d. Percentage .... *z6 Percentage 1z,50

'82-90 ,90fExpenditure 7s. -d. ,86fExpenditure 25*. lid Percentage .... Percentage V95

It will be seen that only on one occasion do the maxima and minima of any period (no matter of what length) fail to come for both percentage of members unemployed and for average expenditure in the same year. It should be noticed that the variations in the rates of benefit paid by various Unions are great, and these variations absolutely prevent any testing of these averages by systems of weights. They have no common measure. The following table shows the rates paid by some Unions in 1890:



88 -MHicellanea. [Mar.

TABLE TI.-Rates of Unemiployed Benefit Paid by Certain Trade Unions.

Maximum Sum whiich a Member Union. Rates of Pay. may receive

in 1 Year.

? s. d. C IOs. for 18 weeks; 8s. for 18

Une B r id. per mile afterwards when 6

travelling) ....... . A malgamated Carpenters; g I2

and Joiners .................} Associated Carpenters and 8s. for 16 weeks.6 8

Joiners .

O los. 6d. per week when travelling Operative Plumbers ........ ~ nin search of work ... ........S Progressive Cabinet Makers ios. for 8 weeks; twice in a year 8 - - London Amalgamated 28. 6d. per day for 14 weeks..

0 20 -

Upholsterers ..... Cigarmakers. gs. for 13 weeks; 6s. for 13 weeks 9 I5 -

Travellers, is. 4d. at each branch] Amalgamated Tailors they may visit, but only one

such visit to be paid in 6 weeks Philanthropic Coopers ........ i zs. per week ............ 7 6 -*

Amalgamated Society of - I9 12 -

Engineers .... Unit aine Wers

........... . Iilos. for 8 weeks; 58. for 8 weeks;

z28. 6d. for 8 weeks ............. East London Hammermen los. for 13 weeks ............ 6 IO London Society of Com- i 12. for 16 weeks.9 22

positors.. Oldham Powerloom Over, Ios. for 13 weeks; 7s. 6d. for 131 2 6

lookers ... . weeks; and 58. for 26 weeks .... 7

* This might not be continuous, buit the Returns do not make it clear.

These rates are given as samples taken at random and could be added to largely. Where such variations exist, it would be impossible to find an average for the whole, and the averages given in Table I must only be considered as the unweighted averages of the statistics in the columns to which they belong. No reliance can be placed upon them except for the immediate purpose for which they were calculated.

An interesting statistical problem arises when dealing with such a mass of incomparable data. Would any more reliable results accrue if instead of averaging the figures themselves, the percentage variations were measured in the form of an index number'? The initial difficulty in such a task is the selection of the best period as base. Where a sequence of statistics varies in its quantities from 39s. I Id. to gd. (as do those of the Boiler- makers), or from 77s. 43d. to 7d. (as the Yorkshire Glass Bottle Makers), it is obvious that finding a base is an important matter. To avoid allowing accidental movements in individual figures to have undue influence, the average of a period forms the best base, and in the following calculations I have adopted the average of the years 1882-91.



1900.] Trade Union Expenditure on Unemployed Bene.fits. 89 TABLE III.-ShioWing Variations in the Expenditure ky certain Trade Unions on Unemployed

and ravelingBenfit,_reduced to Percentages of 1882-91 = io0. _____

Union. ~ Amount Union. ~Taken as 1860. 1861. 1862. 1863. 1864. 1865. 1866. 1867. 1868. 1869

Base.

5.d. Amal. CarpYs. and Joiners i9 i* 4 40 30 26 6 6 17 68 70 100 Co-operattive Smithis . 20..z io 12 8 33 19 10 14 83 105 87 56 Amnal. Soc. of Engineers. i9 9 37 89 1.62 176 56 45 170 175 196 180 Steam Engine Makers ... iz 50 50 142 208 81 41 41, 78 202 208 Friendly Ironfounders.. 26 3 38 112 179 127 72 59 102 249 245 210 London Bookbinders..... i -3 98 165 145 86 40 48 47 101 141 157

Soc.Of ComPs. .e.1 7* 12 55 46 23 55 77 71 100 92 107 Warehousemen's Phil....23 2* 39 68 30 10 57 20 40 41 24 16 London Zinc Workers ...i6 7-2 12 55 20 20 12 5 28 37 11 56 Associated Blacksmiths.. i4 7 8 15 34 13 3 5 179 130 58 21

Ironmoulders 30 I0 82 166 173 116 52 101 103 305 140 61 United Bricklayers .....- 81? ? ? ? ? ? - 756 1,000 373 Gen. Carps. and Joiners 10. 9* --- 26 10 61 65 90 United Plumbers . .....' 6* - - 23 24 Alliance Cabinetmakers.. i 6 - - 6 27 London Upholsterers....i i [0* - 55 190 143 Amalgamated Tailors .... i7* I' - - - 64 Coachimakers...........'4+7* -- 132 143 125 Boiler'makers............i4 5*1 - 240 48 40 Glass Bottle Makers ..2..z7 I* - 102 117 20 Typographlical Assoc. . 6 7* 182 108 87 93 147 118 137 Bradford Overlookers ...6 - - -66 60 Operative Stonemasons* z 1 - 75 123 146 194

Average . -..35.75..0 84 46 41 76 I58 145 107

1870. 1871. 1872. 1873. 1874. 1875 1876. 1877. 1878. 187.9. s.d. - -__

A.mal. Carps. and Joiners ig if 103 69 32 25 21 18 19 26 66 174 Co-operative Smiths .....20 10 33 132 15 17 16 46 114 53 100 228 Amal. Soc. of Engineers. ig 9 .95 33 37 36 49 72 102 122 168 343 Steam Engine Makers ... 2 4 163 52 28 36 40 64 95 122 212 340 Friendly Ironfounders ... 6 3 115 42 21 5-1 68 69 107 154 234 355 London Bookbinders ...... -43 204 78 60 115 101 36 91 218 210 192

J) SOc OfCOmPs .... 7t 152 75 51. 41 45 28 66 76 91 140 Warehousemen's Phil. . 23 2* 77 16 37 38 49 46 204 257 299 256 London Zinc Workers ...i6 71 23 19 5 18 3 5 13 5 1 19 Associated Blacksmiths 5.14 7 19 15 2 1 8 50 41 40 120 114 228

,, fronmoulders 3 0 1 0 37 16 33 45 83 106 116 116 1.86 224 Unitedl Bricklayers .....- 8* 240 148 146 173 150 108 165 399 676 985 Gen. Carps. and Joiners ... w 9* 131 106 28 29 26 21 19 37 117 260 Unitedl Plumbers .......i6i 44 30 19 29 18 8 11 19 49 102 Alliance Cabinetmakers.. 17 6 39 11 1 1 5 10 26 32 62 151 London Upholsterers .....u ~o- 8 1 40 77 49 7 5 74 80 126 135 199 Amalgamated Tailors 3..~ 80 57 59 64 119 130 131 169 152 185 Coachmakers.......4.... 7* 132 101 69 57 69 65 93 133 161 306

Boilermakers . '~~~~~4 5* 39 22 8 14 15 104 143 104 160 268 Glass Bottle Makers .....27 i 4 19 27 1 1 2 2 5 28 195 228 Typographical Assoc. . 6 7* 109 77 73 66 97 139 166 138 184 231 Bradford Overlookers .. 6 i 90 44 40 200 148 98 106 135 246 256 Operative Stonemasons* 2 5* 209 110 102 114 84 101 70 156 - -

Average . -...... 97 57 42 5 3 58 6o 186 ''9 I73 25 7 *Does not appear iii previous tables.




TABLE III Contd.-Showing Variations in the Expenditure by certain Trade Unions.

Union. Takentas 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. Base.

S. d. Amal. Carps. and Joiners I 9 1i 130 107 75 74 99 141 172 135 127 Co-operative Smiths ........ 0 10 55 25 14 26 330 - - 175 67 Amal. Soc. of Engineers.. I9 9 140 87 48 70 124 154 163 156 102 Steam Engine Makers ... I2 4 142 96 54 67 103 162 185 191 96 Friendly Ironfounders... z6 3 156 125 69 73 116 166 202 143 79 London Bookbinders........ i5 -4 128 54 100 115 97 145 181 113 89

SOC. Of Comps 5 I i 127 121 109 91 85 107 106 88 95 Warehousemen's Phi 23 2 133 100 149 131 120 123 92 75 100 London Zinc Workers ....i 6 7j 24 23 63 36 :37 128 129 232 272 Associated Blacksmiths... 14 7 48 22 14 28 193 240 191 164 62

Ironmoulders 30 IO 105 82 115 50 167 200 167 106 50 United Bricklayers ........ - 84 451 271 342 120 118 122 118 51 40 Gen. Carps. and Joiners ... I O 91 245 170 120 106 97 148 140 103 140 United Plumbers ........... I 6i 81 77 57 54 52 143 213 135 126 Alliance Cabinetmakers .... 17 6 98 69 63 89 140 173 206 144 91 London Upholsterers ........ i1i ioi 217 118 132 333 271 367 190 120 135 Amalgamated Tailors .... 7i 151 131 122 126 142 122 113 109 98 Coachmakers ..................1 4 71 95 90 75 75 89 124 157 115 132 Boilermakers .................. j 4. 5 162 15 6 16 275 212 194 122 40 Glass Bottle Makers ........ 27 I i 153 102 45 63 143 120 286 75 89 Typographical Assoc. 6 74 184 163 100 98 96 110 107 107 128 Bradford Overlookers 6 I 101 245 138 100 65 124 106 145 76 Operative Stonemasons* 2 5 - - 63 65 84 97 117 112 147

Average .......... - 142 104 1o 87 132 156 i6i 127 103

1889. 1890. 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 5. d. _ _ _ _

Amal. Carps. and Joiners 19 I; 74 49 56 68 78 101 92 71 Co.operative Smiths .......zo IO 16 70 Amal. Soc. of Engineers.. i9 9 48 49 79 165 184 186 138 77 Steam Engine Makers ... iz . 4 41 38 62 145 203 203 144 62 Friendly lronfounders ... :6 3 30 42 76 149 165 188 130 49 London Bookbinders ........ I5 - 566 48 53 284 174 224 225 144

?, SOC. of Comps . '5.. 15 7* 81 81 152 160 159 220 155 135 Warehousemen's Phil. .... 23 ai 82 51 77 London Zinc Workers .... I6 7j 82 51 36 - - - -

Associated Blacklsmiths... 14 7 36 29 38 112 173 214 120 71 Io Ironfounders.. 30 Ic 23 39 81 119 128 113 169 45

United Bricklayers ....... - 8i 37 31 17 53 63 42 19 29 Gen. Carps. and Joiners .... io 94 71 35 39 36 29 40 64 29 United Plumbers j............ I 6 74 70 77 229 122 150 85 80 Alliance Cabinetmakers... 17 6 34 19 44 65 105 98 73 27 London Upholsterers ... i I iol 135 53 102 - - - -

Amalgamated Tailors .... I 71 65 59 65 43 53 47 47 41 Coachmakers .................... 14 7* 97 65 64 92 95 106 95 125 Boilermakers ....... ........... I 5 44 14 48 68 128 175 172 145 126 Glass Bottle Makers ........ 27 I1 101 49 30 103 150 240 215 95 Typographical Assoc. .... 6 71 94 92 71 73 129 176 207 210 Bradford Overlookers .... 6 I 95 48 102 _ _ Operative Stonemasons* 2 4 146 116 62 73 84 117 109 98

Average. - 67 53 66 1 ii6 I26 146 121 84

* Does not appear in previous tables.



1900.] Trade Union Expenditure on Unemployed Benefits. 91

This work is chiefly valuable for showing hobw consistent general results may be obtained in various ways from sets of data which run in fairly similar directions. The similarity of the three curves shown in the diagram, each curve representing some-

Scale for Diagram comparing the Fluctuations in the Average Annual Percentaqe Average of Trade Union If embers Unernployed, with the Average Aninual Expenditure Expendi- on Unemployed Benftts. ture per Head.

- . O _ > e#D t -~ ~~~~t0 m O P-'i c 0e 0t ; t4' .D . .

.f . .

.t .D .. ; -' t- .6 o O; 4 Ct '4 .4 U

8. o

35 - oo 34 33

ZN 32 41i

|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .l

29

z8 27 270

26 260 25 2I0 24 t

2323

22 I 220 21 -210

23 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~200 19 1900

8 111 ,180

17 170 l

x6 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~160 g 15 150 aR 14 140 13 130 '3 12 120 12

if 110 od

10 100 10

9 90 9 8 80 8 7 7 6 60 6 5 50 5

4 40 4

3 30,' 3 2 20 2

I [0 I

. -... Expenditure of all trade unionis in Table I per head per annum. Index Numbers of expenditure of all trade unions in Table I per headl per annum.

................ Percentage of trade union members unemployed, Table I. Board of Trade Averages.



92 Mliscellanea. [Mar.

thing different from the other, establishes the conclusions that although individual trades may suffer in different degrees, a,nd though some may suffer most at the commencement and some towards the end of a trade depression, they generally move sympathetically with each other, and we may locate the years of depression and expa,nsion since 1860 with a definiteness which well repays this rather laborious study. The conditions of trade and the labour market which were indicated in the diagram published in the Journal, December, 1899, are here shown pronouncedly, and we may safely affirm that the years 1867-68, 187a-80, 1884-87, 1892-95, were depressed, while the years 1860, 1865-66, 1871-75, 1881-83, 1889-90, 1896 were years of expansion. One other point may be dleduced by comparison of the lower curve with the two upper curves on the present diagram. When the labour market is brisk, the periods of unemployment for individuals cha,nging their place of occupation are short, e.g., the time they claim unemployed benefit is short, as is seen in the small divergence between the positions of the lowest points in each curve. Conversely, in times of depression, not only are a larger percentage of workmen unemployed at a given time, i.e., at the end of each month when the return is made up, but the time spent in passing from one job to another is greatly increased: a phase which the monthly return of the percentage unemployed may, and probably does, fail to show in its true proportion, but which the increased payment to each member so unemployed shows fully. This is proved by the greatly disproportionate increase of expenditure in these years compared with the corresponding expenditure in brisk years. How terribly the labour market fluctuates year by year is another feature brought to our notice by even a slight glance at the movements of the curves. To remove those fluctuations, if possible, would probably do more real service to the labourer than a large percentage increase in a nominal money wage, which is ever an unknown quantity.

III.-Prices of Commodities in 1899. By A. SAUERBECK.

THE following table shows the course of prices of forty.five commodities during the last twenty years as compared with the st.andard period of eleven years, 1867-77, which in the aggregate is equivalent to the average of the twenty-five years 1853-77 (see the Society's Journal, 1886, pp. 592 and 648, and 1893, pp. 220 and 247):



Documents

Trade Union Expenditure on Unemployed Benefits since 1860