to the competition of Polish Silesian mines, but that competition
is assisted not only by low wages but also by the low freights
charged by the Polish railways for export coal.

There is no doubt that the basis of freights on continental
railways is more favourable 10 users than in this country.

The accompanying table shows how unemployment has risen
and 1s rising in land transport :—

NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES UNEMPLOYED.
TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION INDUSTRIES.

(Ministry of Labour Statistics).

Monthly Average.

1927 ... i. .
1928 ... ‘es ve
1929 ... I~
1930 :—
January ...
February ...
March
April
May wa
June en
July ee I”
August... ee es
September ... vee es
October |...

Total Unemployed.

100,805
110,621
114.107

129,913
133,718
142,040
141,725
142,450
133,543
139,043
145,123
149,558
186 105

Percentage.

13-1
14-1
14-1

16:1
16-6
17-6
17-6
17-7
16-3
16-9
17-7
18-2
20-92

Shipping and Shipbuilding.

The relation between transport by sea and the British exporting
industries cannot be too strongly emphasised. Itishardly necessary
to elaborate the fact that if shipping companies cannot obtain
profitable employment for their ships, and much merchant shipping
is laid up idle, the companies have not the incentive or the money
to build new ships.

And the Shipping Industry is more directly and acutely
affected by foreign competition than almost any other. If its costs