The workingman's advocate., 1867-08-17
MINUTES o. EVIDENCE
Royal Commission app 4inted TO Inquir'
into Trades Unions

\ into Trades Unions
PRESENT:
Ths Right Hon. SIR MmuAM EsLs In the Chair
The Rigt. Hon. the EARL OF LoRFIsLD.
The Right aea. Sir EDxusD wALEEA HKAD, Bart.
KCB.
Cir DANIEL GoocH, Bart p.
! HERnAs MEEIyALE, Esq., G. b.
JAMES BeorH, ksq.. O. D.
| THOMAS HUGBss, 1sq Mp
FRKDEkIc HARRisos, ksl.
Mr.. WILLIAM ALLAN examined.
Chairman-You ou are secretary OF the ANAL
gsmated Society Of Engineers, are you not 7
Yes.
When did that society beginf II was es-
tablished on the 1st OF January, 1851 But
perhaps it might be as well for me TO explain
! that il was established out OF a number Of
societies that previously existed.
Out Of several societies which you call
branch societies mo, independent societies
Independent societies joined this in 1851 !?
! Yes
| How many members does it comprise at
present g--33, 500.
And how many branches sos branches.
| Is the number Of members increasing ? =
| Ii increases at the rate of between 1000 and
5000 per year.
Have you got the increase for 1865 and
| 1866 were 5000 members added in 1865
and $500 in 1866 Yes.
Are those Individual members, or were
they unions that came in t-They were new
members.
Have you established any new branches
this year Yes few this year, and a
number last year.
And have you branches in England, Wales,
Scotland, Ireland, the colonies, and the
Urited States, and one in France Yes
For the information of the Commissioners
shou say that 10 England and Wales there
are Z3S branches, numbering 1886 mem
hers in Scotland there are 80 branches, and
3,2lS members in Ireland ii branches,
with 1871 members. In the British Colo
mes there are Ii, that includes Australia,
Canada, Malta, New Zealand, and Queens
land, anO those IA branches contain G26
members. The United States have ii
branches. with 49S members. In France we
have only one branch, which is IN CIoix, In
the Dorth Of France, eud numbers 30 mem
bers. Altogether there are sos branches,
with 81 -5gs mswtss=~ rr-.-
Have VOC rulsss for the amalgamxs> s-.50-
ciety Yes Here is copy Of the present
rules, aud ere Is q copy of our original ~ iss1
when We started in 1851 (aaisessuag ~ the
SGa.s).
Are there separate rules for the di ferent
branches mo one code of rules governs
the whole Of the members.
Is there anything peculiar in the constitu-
ton Of the IL branches in the United
States Nothing whatever they conform
to our rules.
How are they governed; are all governed
in the same way All alike.
A committee Of delegates at the branch
Yes SO many commit emen in proportion
to the number of members in each branch.
Do you know whether there are any
unions or amalgamated unions in America,
and do they prevail TO any extent there y-I
believe that in the ron trades there are some
very extensive associations there.
Have they any Of engineers g-Yes.
Wkas IS the reascn then Of their becoming
branches Of foreign union SO far as our
members are concerned, | think all the
branches are principally comnosed Of Eng
lishmen who have left NJ cs,,and and gone out
to the United States and established branches
III the different places to which they went
they have not been established by what we
would call Americans proper, but by our
own countTymeu.
They were members OF society here, rs l
understand you Yes, Of our association
principally.
And they have continued members of the
London Society they have gone to America
and have established branches in America,
and are in manner affiliated to their former
society Yes, exactly so.
Is it the same in the case OF P-ance Just
the same.
What caused tha. one particular branch
to establish itself in France Pit is princi-
pally composed Of Engiishmen in fact,
may state that the whole of the members
there are Englishmen that is to say, they
we're employed in large manufactory there,
and they made application for branch, and
We granted il.
How are they admitted in London 10 mem
bership "A candidate is proposed by two,
of the members of the society, and then he
stands over for a fortnight or q month, IN
order that we may ascertain his abilities ~
q workman and his moral character and at
the end Of the fortnight or month, rs the
case may be, he is admitted member or re-
jected.
Is there the sstne process in admission TO
the branches which exists Ia the foreign
countries IN the United States for instancet
Yes, throughout the society no one can be
admitted contrary to the rules or if any
are, they stand q very good chance Of being
excluded as soon % it Is known.
How are your funds obtained by sub
scription OF IL. per week from each member.
Will you state about what your fund is at
present f-In round numbers at the present
time il is Gl40,O00.
Is that ia the funds Mot in the funds,
in different banks. That is to say, the acca-
mulated fund is about E140, 900.
And what Is about your present annual
| income. ESQ., ,SS5 is it not Yes: that
| would be for 1865. Our 1855 report is not
| yet out. M aSa
Earl of Achield--Y You say that the sub
scriptioa Is Is. a week, and the number of
members $4,000; where does the rest Of the
money come from From admissions.
There is certain amount thzt every csndi-
date has to pay, not less than l5s, q an en-
trsnce fee, and, according to age, it nay
amount % f3 l0s. You will see, therefore.
that we derive large amount Of revenue in
the way Of adnissions into the society, the
entrance fees being, as have said, according
Ito age. l
| Chairman-- What was your expeuditure in
1S65s-The expenditure in that year vas
E49,17a. E M s
| What were the heads under which that
&49,O00 VS. distribntsd ITO lpembers cut
of smpIo4nent therc was9 9eix076: 70 -
members, &f3, 765 II. "a. and 10 -
annualsd msmbers (tAlt Il 70 ny, med ~
Nho we're too old TO gaia the ordinarf[ 80
of wages - the trade--we allow sncizk NOS
O. ~ %. pw week ea6hl E5,1e4 III " "a
Then, . 9unsFals On member 1eoI q
Their wiys1 sdsaths ~ paid $f,G9x