q o

APPENDIX IB

REPORTS RELATING TO THE INSPECTION OF COAL-MINES

The Inspecting Engineer and Chief Inspector of Coal-mines to the Under-Secretary of Mines Sir ; Wellington, 15th May, 1944. I have the honour to present my annual report, together with statistical information, in regard to coal-mines of the Dominion for the year ended 31st December, 1943, in accordance with section 42 of the Coal-mines Act, 1925. OUTPUT The output from New Zealand collieries for 1943 was 2,787,868 tons, being 107,827 tons greater than the 1942 output. There were increases of 91,169 tons from the Northern District and 42,785 tons from the Southern District, but the output from the West Coast District was 26,127 tons less than the 1942 output. The following statement shows the tons of coal raised, persons employed, lives lost by accidents in or about collieries, &c., to 1943 : —

ACCIDENTS The following is a summary of accidents in and about coal-mines during 1943 with their causes : —

During 1943 five fatalities occurred in West Coast collieries, two in Southern mines, and one in the Northern District. Thirty serious non-fatal accidents were reported to the District Inspectors during 1943, fifteen of them in the West Coast District —six caused by falls of coal or stone ; eight in the Southern District, of which two were due to falls of coal; and seven in the Northern District. Sixteen persons were injured in haulage accidents, most of them having been caught between mine tubs, or mine tub and rib of place. Dangerous Occurrences reported Of the twenty-eight dangerous occurrences reported to the Inspectors during 1943, sixteen were related to fires or heating in underground workings. There were seven reports of firedamp accumulations. Prosecutions Seventeen informations were laid during 1943 by Inspectors of Coal-mines for breaches of the Coal-mines Act and the regulations thereunder. Sixteen convictions were obtained, and in the remaining case decision was suspended for twelve months. Legislation affecting Coal-mines No amendments were made to the Coal-mines Act, 1.925, or to the regulations under that Act during 1943. I have, &e., (leorge Duggan, Inspecting Engineer and Chief Inspector of Coal-mines.

21

Lives lost by Accidents ill or Persons ordinarily employed. Ton8 ral8e ,j about Collieries. „ Output, in __ per each Per- ,, Yrar ' Statute Tons. son employed Per Million Thousand Number 41 n a k i n i below Ground. Ions p „ raf , nfl of Lives Above Ground. Below Ground. Total. produced. j j lost. Prior to 1939 90,477,430 * * * * * * 501 1939 .. 2,342,(539 1,220 3,542 4,7ti2 (56 1 7 - 2(5 3 - 57 1 7' 1940 .. 2,516,099 1,277 3,7(59 5,046 668 3-58 1-58 8 194] .. 2,639,507 1,358 3,633 4,991 726 1-51 0-80 4 1942 .. 2,680,041 1,338 3,659 4,997 732 2-24 1-20 6 1943 .. 2,787,868 1,375 3,999 5,374 697 2'87 1-50 8 Totals.. 103,443,584 .. .. .. ■■ •• 544 ———— } * For returns for previous years see page 53, Mines Statement, 1940.

Fatal Accidents. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. < Number of Persons — ! Number of Number o£ Number of Separate Fatal Deaths Separate Non-fatal l^nlswhich Accidents. Accidents. proved Fata , t0 their Companions. Carbon-monoxide poisoning Explosions of fire-damp or coal-dust Falls of ground ...... 6 6 8 8 Explosives Haulage ........ 2 2 lli It) Miscellaneous —Underground .... . . .. 4 4 On surface .... .. .. 2 2 Totals . . . • . • 8 8 30 30