Matter collineations, as a symmetry property of the energy-momentum te
nser T-ab, are studied from the point of view of the Lie algebra of ve
ctor fields generating them. Most attention is given to space-times wi
th a degenerate energy-momentum tenser. Some examples of matter collin
eations are found for dust fluids (including Szekeres's space-times),
and null fluid space-times.