THE OUTLOOL FOR LABOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 19 June 1925, Page 9

THE OUTLOOL FOR LABOUR.

Fall in Union Membership. ALLEGED DUE TO POVERTY. By Cable—Pres* Association —Copyright. Australian and M.Z. Cable Association LONDON, June 17. The annual report of the General Federation of Trade Unions shows that the membership has fallen b> 89,734 to 830,000 —the lowest recorded since 1912—while the receipts, £57,750, have declined by £3221, compared with the previous year. The secretary (Mr Appleton) attributes the losses of membership chiefly to amalgamations and the loss, oi membership in unions themselves, anu also the poverty of unions, owing to unemployment, reducing contributions. Mr Appleton expresses the opinion that the return to the gold standard may help to solve the problems, o. trade and unemployment. He urges a reduction of rates and taxes as another step in the same direction. CAPE BRETON RIOTS, FAILURE TO ENGINEER GENERAL STRIKE. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. JtUltrAll&n and N.Z. Cable Association, OTTAWA, Jpne 17. Mr Tom Moore (president of tho Labour Congress of Canada) declined to entertain a proposal by the striking miners at Cape Breton to inaugurate a general strike throughout Eastern Canada. • SYDNEY SHIPPING HOLD-UP. WAGE CONDITIONS INVOLVED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, June 18. The real reason lor the holding up of the steamer Time was the refusal of the owners to insert in the rew articles a clause guaranteeing the wages conditions of tlie old award. The vessel will be tied up indefinitely on general lines. The dispute . is identical with that which occurred on the Monario in Melbourne. The articles on many ships expire on June 3U, and an extension of tho trouble is then expected. BRITAIN’S IDLE MULTITUDE. INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF unemployed. By Cable —Press AssosiaDon—Copyright. (Received June 18, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, June 17. The Ministry of Labour has made an interesting investigation into the personal circumstances and industrial history of typical cases, among 10,000 claimants lor unemployed .benefits.. It is found that G2 per cent, of the men, and 77 per cent, of the women would normally be in steady employment. Only 3) per cent, of the men and 1J per cent, of women "are verging upon unemployment, and these are mainly elderly and in poor health. Of the unemployed men, 23 per cent, have been apprenticed, 24 per cent, have been trained, and 54 per cent neither apprenticed nor trained. The investigations showed that 67 per cent, of men and 73 per cent, women are in good health.