The result of the hours regulation is that mines must pay the 
same wages for shorter hours and lower production. This means 
that the wages cost per ton produced must be higher and the price 
charced to British users of coal must be higher. 
The Coal Mining Industry, it may be added, has more than 
any other suffered in recent years from interference by Government. 
More to our present point, however, is the recent trend of 
unemployment in mining. It is not possible to calculate to what 
extent this unemployment has so far been caused by mechanisation, 
by generally more efficient methods of production or by the intro- 
duction of oil fuel. 
NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES UNEMPLOYED. 
COAL MINING INDUSTRY. 
(Ministry of Labour Statistics). 
Monthly Average. 
1927 ... wy 
1928 ... 
1929 ... 
1930 :— 
January 
February 
March 
April 
May... ve 
June er 
July rue 
August  ... 
September... 
October ... 
Total Unemployed. 
221,008 
252,404 
177,292 
138,491 
142,325 
155,667 
178,090 
237,120 
955,769 
302,620 
253,335 
247,549 
283 597 
Percentage. 
19:0 
22:6 
16-5 
12-9 
13-2 
14-5 
16-6 
22-1 
23-9 
28-3 
23-7 
23-1 
26H 
IRON AND STEEL. 
The direct relationship between this industry and engineering 
is too apparent to need insistence. If engineering is depressed, 
it uses less iron and steel. Iron and steel being consequently 
depressed do not need or cannot buy new or additional machinery. 
Their fortunes are obviously linked together. The relation of the 
[ron and Steel industry to transport, mining and quarrying is 
equally obvious. 
It is to be noted that an inquiry into the Iron and Steel Industry 
was recently undertaken by the Civil Research Committee of the