C—2A

1943 NEW ZEALAND

STATE COAL-MINES (REPORT ON THE WORKING OF) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1943

Prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 184 of the Coal-mines Act, 1925

REPORT ON SOUTH ISLAND STATE COAL-MINES The District Manager, State Coal-mines, Greymouth, to the Under-Secretary, Mines I )epartment, Wellington. Sir, — I have the honour to submit my annual report 011 the workings of the State coal-mines (South Island) for the year ended 31st March, 1943. Liverpool Colliery Coal-winning.-—'The gross output for the year was 365,837 tons 3 cwt., an increase of 2,038 tons 8 cwt, when compared with the figures for the previous year. After making allowances for stocks on hand and deducting mine consumption and waste, there remained for disposal 162,942 tons 9 cwt. 2 qr., which is accounted for as follows:— Tons cwt, qr. Shipped . . . . . . . . . . 70,084 6 1 Railed Canterbury . . . . .. .. 34,386 1 2 Local sales .. . . . . . . .. 53,764 8 3 Mine sales .. .. . . .. .. 88 2 0 Sales to workmen, and free issues . . . . 1,592 1 3 Stock in bin and yard. . .. . . . . 2,016 18 1 Stock on wharf .. .. .. .. 1,010 11 0 162,942 9 2 Used on works .. . . .. .. 4,710 0 0 Waste . . .. .. .. . . 867 3 0 168,519 12 2 The gross output from the colliery since its inception amounts to 3,789,882 tons 17 cwt. Days Worked.—During the year the colliery worked on 235 days, an increase of 12 days when compared with, the previous year. The possible working-days, including 13 back Saturdays, were 274. The difference between the days worked and the possible working-days is accounted for as follows: 1 day, Good Friday; 1 day, Easter Monday; 1 day, Labour Day; 2 days, dispute re horse-drivers; 1 day, dispute re late train; 5 days, shortage of transport; 1 day, dispute re preference of men going on coal; 1 day, slip on rope-road; 11 days, slips on railway; 1 day, wind damage; 1 day, power failure; 1 day, funeral of employee; 4 days, heavy rain; 8 days, Christmas holidays, Employees.—ln connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 303 men and 13 boys, made up as follows—Underground: Coail-hewers, 86; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 150. Surface: 67 men and 13 boys. Expenditure.—The total expenditure in connection with coal-winning for wages, stores, mine timber, and compensation, together with, subsidies 011 railway tickets and cost of fuel used on works, amounted to £154,980, as compared with £138,426 for the previous year. Coal-hewers' average daily earnings.—The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £2 12s. Id. per day, and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £2 Bs. 6d., an increase of 4s. 6d. per day when compared with the previous year.