Pre‐1914, average union expenditure per head on benefits almost equalled the average wage; today it is only one‐twentieth of average earnings. In analysing the trends in benefit patterns, the authors discuss such factors as the low level of expenditure on unemployment benefit, the rising trend of dispute benefit in the 1960's, the run down of superannuation benefits, and the increase in expenditure on sickness and accident, and the increase in contributions to educational programmes. They also consider probable future developme