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1944 NEW ZEALAND

STATE COAL-MINES (REPORT ON THE WORKING OF) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1944

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

REPORT ON SOUTH ISLAND STATE COAL-MINES The Deputy Superintendent, State Coal-mines, Greymouth, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— 10th May, 1944. I have the honour to submit my annual report on the working of the State Coal-mines for the year ended 31st March, 1944. Liverpool Colliery Coal-winning.—The gross output for the year was 135,260 tons 9 cwt., a decrease of 30,576 tons 14 cwt. when compared with the figures for the previous year. After allowing for waste (620 tons 9 cwt.) and surplus stocks taken on charge (908 tons 3 cwt.), there remained for disposal a net output of 135,548 tons 3 cwt. Taking into account the stocks on hand at the beginning and end of the year, the following statement shows details of the coal disposed of during the year Ist April, 1943— Tons cwt. qr. Tons owt. qr. Stock in bin and yard .. .. .. 2,016 18 1 Stock on wharf .. .. .. •• 1,010 11 0 3,027 9 1 Add net output for year (134,640 tons) and surplus stock (908 tons 3 cwt.) .. .. 135,548 3 0 138,575 12 1 31st March, 1944 — Less stock in bin and yard .. .. .. 1,674 6 1 Less stock on wharf .. .. .. 571 9 2 2,245 15 3 Total disposed of .. .. .. .. 136,329 16 2 Disposals Shipped .. .. •• •• 71,636 11 0 Eaiied to Canterbury, Otago, &c. .. .. 23,396 1 3 Railway sales .. . • . • .. 27,720 12 0 Local and mine sales .. .. •• •• 8,303 14 2 Sales to workmen and free issues .. .. 1,642 17 I Used oil works .. .. • • • • 3,630 0 0 136,329 16 2 The gross output from the colliery since its inception totals 3,925,143 tons 6 cwt. Days Worked.~During the year the colliery worked on 235 days,, the same number of days as in the previous year. The possible working-days, including six back Saturdays, were 268. The difference between the days worked and the possible working-days is accounted for as follows: 1 day, Good Friday; 1 day, Easter Monday ; 3 days, power failure ; 2 days, heavy rain ; 1 day, dispute re pay tickets ; 1 day, mechanical fault; 3 days, fire in mine ; 8 days, Christmas holidays ; 1 day, protest regarding shortage of tobacco-supplies ; 2 days, dispute re miners ; 1 day, dispute re truckers ; 1 day, slip on railway ; 1 day, funeral of employee ; 1 day, breakdown of hoist; 1 day, union meeting ; 1 day, insufficient truckers to work the mine ; 4 days, dispute re recalling to camp of furlough men from mines. . Employees. —In connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed m and about the 'mine was 299 men and 16 boys, made up as follows— Underground : Coal-hewers, 84 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 149. Surface : 66 men and 16 boys. Expenditure.—The total expenditure in connection with coal-winning for wages, stores, mine timber, and compensation, together with subsidies on railway tickets and cost of fuel used on works, amounted to £138,026, as compared with £154,980 for the previous year.