The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-04-22
ENGLISH co OPERATIVE AND
TRADE UNION SOCIETIES.

We nave Just received from our esteemed
friend, Alex. Mcdonald, Esq, Nj. P for
Stafford, England, an official return to all
Returns OF the amount of money deposit ed
in the Post Office Savings Bank and other
savings banks, with the number OF depositors
IN each OF the last ten years,
OF the number Of societies registered under
the Friendly Societies Acts, number Of mem
beers and capital;
OF the number Of registered cooperative
societies, with the amount OF capital subscrlb "a
for each year las far as knOwn) since 1867;
OF the number of burial societies, number
Of members, and capital. for the year 1874 /;
OF trade unions registered since 1871,
names, numbers and capital;
of the number of children of educational
age, OF the number Of cases where attend
ance has been enforced, and of the amount
expended upon primary education from Par
liamentary votes during the last ten years;
Ot the number Of paupers IN the United
Kingdom in each year during the last ten
years, the annual cost of the paupers for the
same period;
OF the number Of criminals each year dur.
ing the last ten years, and the cost Of their
maintenance, whether paid from local or I'm
perial funds to be distinguished:
And. Of the number Of emlgrants from the
United Kingdom during the last ten years,
their occupations and ports Of destination.
The information contained therein being
authentic, will no doubt prove # more
than ordinary interest to the readers of
THE Advocate, more especially as the
need of a similar channel Of information
has long been felt and advocated in the
United States.
The following are the facts presented
regarding Cooperative and Trades Union
Societies
On the 3lst Of December, 1864, the
number Of cooperative societies amounted
to 800; the amount Of capital invested,
tOo0, O12; the amount Of loan capital,
$50, 1923, and the number Of members to
l29, 76l. On the 3Ist Of December, 1879,
the number Of societies had increased to
80; the amount Of share capital to e,
653, 5S2; the amount Of loan capital to
f498, O52, and the membership to 357 ,82l.
while the intervening years have shown a
steady and uniform growth
The returns Of the Registered Trades
Unions show an aggregate membership Of
2o2, GAG, with an annual income of 1860
OS9, and reserve fund Of E273. 757 In
looking over the entire list, 1874 in number,
We were somewhat surprised at the com
paratively recena date Of their establish
ment--a very large proportion dating their
organization from 1872 The oldest socie-
ties are the United Order Of Smiths, En-
gineers and Machinists, established III
1923; the Steam Engine Makers Society,
IN November, 1924; the United Society Of
Boiler Makers, in August, 1884; the Stuff
Makers Provident Society, in 1843, and
the Operative Bricklayers' Society, April
/, 1849.
The following is list Of membership
and the annual income Of the more prom
inent organizations United Society of
Boiler Makers and Iron Ship Builders,
14.715, f35, 1873; Kent Agricultural and
General Laborers' Union. $500, 93, IVA;
Manchester Coopers' Association, ~, 900,
E36, COO; Durham Miners Association.
40, 900, f47, l73; Amalgamated Carpenters
and Joiners, 1887, G34, 484; Amalgam-
ated Society of Tailors. Manchester, 49,
1862, fl7,07l; Amalgamated Association
Of Miners, Manchester. 40, 1924, f76, 1873;
Association of Cotton Spin
ners, Lancashire, IA, 257, e., $40; National
Agricultural Laborers Union, 90, 652,
f33, O1G.
When will the United States be able to
present such recordl