+ 4

Comparable figures in this country are not easily ascertained,
but it may be assumed that for similar work the rates in this
country for the respective grades of labour would, on a fair estimation
 be about £6, £4, £2 10s., and £3 10s.

Here, at least, is one clear reason why these foreign countries
can, and do, produce iron and steel more cheaply than Britain and
why, accordingly, their engineering trades can produce machinery
cheaper and thus throw men in the British trade out of employment.

The results are equally clear. The statistics of unemployment
yy» British metal manufacture are as follows :—

NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES UNEMPLOYED.
METAL MANUFACTURE.

(Ministry of Labour Statistics).

Monthly Average

1927 ... - ys
1928... i
1929 ... a
1930 :—
January ...
February
March
April vee
May... es
June pig
July se
August  ...
September...
October ...

Total Unemployed.

56,573
59,247
54,532

64,413
63,470
76,306
83,028
81,623
83,296
89,848
102,377
09,794
119.466

Percentage.

17-1
18-4
16-8

19-9
19-6
23:6
25-6
25-2
25:
27-5
31-3
33-6
26-6

TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.
Transport is by land, water or alr.

Air-carrying is not yet of great importance as regards bulk,
though it gives employment to engineering by the machinery
and other material used.

Transport can therefore be divided for present purposes into
land and water, and land transport in turn into road and rail.

Road transport for heavy material is probably not as yet a
grave competitor of the railways except in general merchandise,
but no ficures are available to show how far this is the case.