WATERSIDE WORKERS FINANCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2438, 8 June 1922, Page 2

WATERSIDE WORKERS FINANCE.

HOW THE MONEY GOES.

DO THE WORKERS THEM-

SELVES KNOW.

Men who have followed wharf work for many years are, we learn, becoming disturbed over the matter of their Union’s finance. There has been a good deal of unrest, we are informed, on account of a levy of £1 which men are being called upon to pay in addition to their ordinary contributions of £1 a year. Of that levy we may have something to say later. At present we have before us a copy of the Union’s Balance Sheet for the year ending June 30th 1921. We have been asked by some wharf men to analyse this statement and say just what we think of it. As what we will have to present may be information even to some of the men who are paying into the Union we shall here set out wliat this balance Sheet discloses : STATEMENT OF FINANCE. It is shown that the year commenced with a balance in hand of £1,408. The revenue for the year was £3,201 and the year closed with a balance of £1,074. The fees and contributions paid by members amount to £2,970. On the expenditure side it is shown that salaries account for £786; Time lost and bonuses £281; Election and ballots £100; Conference expenses £l4O. The Management expenses (in which the above are included) come to £1,315. Much is by way of payment ■that £1,315 is by way of payment to the Officers and Delegates. In our opinion a cost of £1,315 in maniigernent on a Revenue of £3,261 is altogether excessive. If anyone thinks this comment-unfair we advise such an individual to consult any Officer or Actuary, who has to do with the administration of the funds of a Friendly Society. There was a time when big Labour Unions if they had anything like an income of £2,000 to £3,000 a year would have put by a considerable reserve to meet any lean years or special trial, but in the instance we are reviewing there is no reserve being built up. Some other items of expenditure are worth noting thus :—To the Waterside Workers’ Federation £SOO capitation, and £3OO by way of loan. Then there is u donation of £300,t0 the Barrier Miners Union and £4O to J. B. Williams, Barriers Miners Fare to South Africa. It might be of interest to the Watersiders to know whether that £3OO went up in the smoke of' industrial revolt outside y New Zealand. We find the direct benefits to members in the w T av of Medical expenses, advanced to sick members and Funeral costs are covered by £IOB. THE GENERAL POSITION. The general matter of these finanees is, of course, one for the W aterside Workers themselves to deal with. To the out-sider, however, it certainly does seem that a Union which collects nearly £3OOO in fees and contributions ought to be able to carry on, and place something to reserve without having to Piece the burden of an additional tax on its members by way of a big levy. To spend some £1,300 on management and only £IOB on direct benefits to the members does seem unreasonable. Be are told that during this year men are being charged £2 4s to £2 9~ before they receive a badge which will enable them to get employment on the wharf. Our opinion is that Parliament should deal with that -ide of the question. It is simply a gross injustice that in an occupa- - t-km where tlie employment is from hour tu hour it is allowed that workers are compelled to pay such exorbitant fees befox-e they get the c-hunce of work. These facts should v impel the individual workers to do -ome earnest thinking on their own

account. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League.)