Labor Statistics

NZ Truth, Issue 873, 19 August 1922, Page 1

Labor Statistics

The hard times that the British- La--I>or movement is experiencing just now are reflected m the figures presented to the annual conference at Edinburgh. There is a type of man that joins the movement and only for" what he can get put of it — a fair weather "Comrade" who selfishly takes all that the union can get' for him' •when work is plentiful and wages high, but who promptly deserts the cause and the union alike when .times are bad and wages fall. That type is perhaps more numerous dt. Home than m New Zealand, and whether, loss of employment is caused by strikes or depression, there is always a section of ©very union which may be calculated upon to break away. So it is hot sur- . prising that the total membership of the Labor Party has fallen off from the: last year's figure of 4,356,807 to about four million of affiliated organisations. With the total membership > the number of delegates has declined* from- £72 last year and 1109 m the record year of 1920 to something less than 800 this congress. The annual report takes a very hopefui view of political activities. The' number' of candidates now before constituencies so endorsed Is 884, including those who are still sitting m the House of Commons, compared with 861 put up at the last Election, and the number will certainly be increased before .the struggle comes. In the 53 by-elections fought since, the general election, Labor contested 49 and gained 12 seats, while the Labor vote m those constituencies which had a chance of showing the turnover increased from 341,741 at the general election to 498,676 at the various byelections. There are to-day 2400 diyisional and local Labor parties and trades councils while the number of women councils has -grown" to over 800 with, a membership of about 100,000. 'The growth m the number, of individual women who have become unionists is remarkable. During the war, of course, women worked m industrial pursuits to a very great extent, but it waalhe general opinion that lately men have been taking their places m the factories. But the number here quoted seems to contradict that.