RECORD GROWTH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 100, 29 April 1937, Page 7

RECORD GROWTH

UNION MEMBERSHIP

TOTAL NOW ABOUT 195,000

The compulsory membership provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1936, have led to a record growth in union membership. Figures given to the "Christchurch Press" on Tuesday by Mr. H. E. Moston, the assistant secretary of the Labour Department, show that this year the registration totals have reached record dimensions. They are expected to show substantial accretions. In January, 1936, there were 85,000 members of industrial unior* in the country, Mr. Moston said in an interview. The figure had now risen to approximately 195,000, an increase of 110.000. Mr. Moston said that there had also been a very big increase in the number of unions registered. ll was expected that the figures would show further periodical increases in view of recent award decisions, bringing new unions under the compulsory provisions. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act .of last session provided for the registration of New Zealand unions covering all existing workers or employees, and stated that all workers subject to any award or industrial agreement registered under the Act must become members of a union. The legislation stipulates that, it is not lawful for an employer to employ, subject to an award or agreement, any person who is not a member of a union. . I The new total of union registrations easily creates a record. The membership of workers' unions rose year by year without exception from 17,989 in 1900 to 73,991 in 1914. It fell off during the war years, but a.phenomenal rise was recorded in 1919, the year immediately following the cessation of hostilities. The total for 1928 (103,980) was the highest recorded until the new figures just released by Mr. Moston. Annually from 1928 to 1933 there were decreases in membership, but in 1934 there was a slight recovery, and in 1935 a further considerable increase to a total of 80,929. It is now expected that the total will shortly rise to well above 200,000.