the Trades Union Congress

Perhaps the most significant amongst the activities of the gen eral council, is its efforts under the instructions of the Trades Union congress to promote and assist trade union amalgamation on the lines of organization by industry. Though the general coun cil has from time to time brought together unions for discussion of the possibilities of amalgamation, it has realised that much more is needed than empirical action of this kind. Judged by results the efforts to bring about amalgamations the general council cannot be regarded as successful, though it is still too early, having regard to the real difficulties of amalgamation, to pronounce this work as a failure. Its real importance, however, lies in the persistent and painstaking labour to reach an ideal, and the certainty that, if need be, larger powers will ultimately be given to the general council to deal with the problem.

Finance.

Up to 1923, the affiliation fee of each union affili ated to the T.U.C. was id per member per year. In that year the fee was raised to 3d, payable quarterly on the full membership, including probationary and free members. The increased fees were required principally for publicity purposes and to maintain the Daily Herald, the organ of the British labour movement. In addi tion to the ordinary affiliation fees, each union contributes Li per thousand members towards the fee payable to the International Federation of Trade Unions. Congress affiliation fees in 1926-27 amounted to £27,550. The affiliation fee to the International Fed eration of Trade Unions was £4,392.

The Industrial and the Political Movements.

As the

Trades Union congress really gave birth to the Labour Party, it is natural that close relations should always have existed between the industrial and political sides of the labour movement. From 1905 onward there existed a joint board representing the parlia mentary committee of the T.U.C., the executive committee of the Labour Party and the management committee of the General Federation of Trades Unions (which like the Labour Party owed its existence to the T.U.C.). The members of the board were the secretary and three members from each of the three bodies. But in 1914 the congress decided to dissolve the tripartite joint board and to establish a new one representing the parliamentary com mittee of the Trades Union congress and the executive committee of the Labour Party. At the congress of 1917 steps were taken to ensure close co-operation between the two committees. Joint meetings take place, and joint action has often been taken.

The conference accepted in 192o, as did the Labour Party con ference of 1921, proposals for the establishment of a national Membership of Trade Unions Affiliated to the Trades Union Congress joint council consisting of the chairman and secretary and three members of the general council of the Trades Union congress, the national executive committee of the Labour Party and the execu tive committee of the parliamentary party, 15 members in all.

Membership.—The growth which has taken place in the affili ated membership of the congress since its inception may be seen in the table in the preceding column. (A. GR.)