12. Various estimates of the extent of the permanent surplus in 
the coal-mining industry have been put forward ranging from 
ander 100,000 to over 200,000. The main factors which impress 
18 are :— 
(1) The present volume of unemployment in the industry and 
the persistence of this unemployment over a fairly long period 
with comparatively small fluctuations, as shown by the number 
of insured persons unemployed at various dates from January, 1927, 
to date c—— 
January, 1927 
July, 1927 ... 
December, 1927 
January, 1928 
February,1928 
March, 1928 
April, 1928 ... 
May, 1928 ... 
Wholly 
Unemployed. 
l'emporarily 
Stopped.* 
146,740 53,868 
.32,523 195,743 
.42,156 65,100 
.38.589 79,645 
.44,507 70,993 
148,066 52,009 
159,128 | 49,295 
161.300 | 4.990 
Total. 
200,608 
258.266 
207,256 
211,234 
215,500 
200,075 
208,213 
245 590 
* Persons with a prospect of resuming work within six weeks, mainly 
consisting of those who work less than a full week. 
[t will be noted that high figures of unemployment have persisted 
luring a season which is normally a time of large demand. 
(2) The extent of short-time working in the industry—which is 
much greater than the figures recorded by the Ministry of Labour 
of persons ‘‘ temporarily stopped >’ would indicate. Thus, accord- 
ing to returns furnished to the Mines Department, on the average 
about 450,000 persons have worked less than the full normal 
number of shifts in each week since the beginning of this year on 
account of loss of trade or transport difficulties. Of these, about 
235,000 lost one day only ; 185,000 two days; and 80,000 more than 
two days, the total time lost per week from these causes being: 
on the average .81 of a day, equivalent to the full time working of 
over 100,000 men. It is true that short-time working is to some 
°xtent a normal feature of the coal mining industry, but the per- 
sistence of such high figures in the early months of the year (a 
bime ordinarily of high demand) indicates the existence of a more 
bumerous labour force than is required to produce the present 
output and of a considerable reserve of labour power which can be 
drawn upon to increase output if necessary, withont recourse to the 
"ngagement of new personnel. 
(8) The apparently static or even contracting demand for British 
coal, due in part at least to external conditions over which this 
2994.