Cabinet which presumably must have investigated the charges of 
inefficiency made against the industry. The report has not been 
published and it is clear from answers to questions in Parliament 
that it will not be published. Why not, is another question to 
which no answer is available. 
But a deputation of employers and workpeople was sent to 
examine conditions in the iron and steel industries of France, 
Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany and Czecho-Slovakia, and their 
report. has been published. 
{t may be noted that as regards the efficiency of the British 
Industry, that is to say, its capacity to compete with the Continent 
if other things were equal. the Delegation made the following 
statement :(— 
‘“ The general impression of the Delegation, as the result of 
“ these visits, was that as regards efficiency and management, 
*“ and the modernity and equipment of certain units of plant, 
they were equal to, and in some cases superior to, the iron 
*“ and steel plants which had been seen on the Continent.” 
It has often been alleged that we are not so well equipped 
as our foreign competitors. The report is informing on this subject 
and from 1t we are entitled to deduce that in the matter of 
equipment generally we are at least comparable. This deduction 
is fortified by the evidence of others who with knowledge of the 
subject have examined the position both in this country and 
abroad. 
The earnings of those engaged in the industry in this country 
are definitely higher than the earnings in Continental countries so 
that the British industry is handicapped to this extent. 
The ficures which follow show the difference :— 
TOTAL NORMAL WEEKLY EARNINGS IN THE IRON 
AND STEEL INDUSTRY ABROAD. 
Normal WEEKLY EARNINGS. 
Semi- 
Skilled 
Men. 
8. d. 8. d. 8. d. s. d. 
France . . 516 | 40/3 | 3272 | 37)- 
Belgium i. I | 53/9 38/10 | 30/10 | 35/5 
Luxemburg ... - | 49/2 38/10 | 32/- 36/7 
Germany a ws ...| 68/6 52/10 | 47/- 50/11 
COzecho-Slovakia I hB8/A 32/11 23 192 30/5 
All 
Classes.