C.—2A

Expenditure.—The total expenditure in connection with coal-winning for wages, stores, mine timber, and compensation, together with subsidies on bus fares and cost of fuel used on works, amounted to £5,455. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.—The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £3 2s. id. per day, and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £2 15s. 10d., an increase of 6s. Bd. per day when compared with the previous period. Daily Output.—The average daily output was 62 tons 9 cwt. and the coal-hewers' average daily output was 9 tons 17 cwt., as compared with 115 tons 2 cwt. and 8 tons 11 cwt. respectively for the previous year. Deficiencies. —During the year no payments were made under the minimum-wage clause. Accidents. —No serious accidents were reported at the James Colliery during the year. Underground Workings.—Work up to the time the mine closed down on the 23rd July, 1943, was confined to pillar-extraction, and the total tonnage won during the period was 5,119 tons. Strongman Colliery Coal-winning.—The gross output for the year was 105,701 tons 4 cwt., an increase of 11,531 tons 8 cwt. when compared with the figures for the previous year. After allowing for waste (946 tons 4 cwt.) and adding coal purchased (169 tons 4 cwt. 3 qr.) there remained for disposal 104,924 tons 4 cwt. 3 qr. Taking into account the stocks on hand at the beginning and end of the year, the following statement show details of the coal disposed of during the year :— Ist April, 1943 — Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt qr. Stock in bin and yard .. .. .. 412 16 0 Stock on wharf .. .. .. .. 402 3 3 Stock on dump .. .. .. .. 2,742 10 3 3,557 10 2 Add net output for year (104,755 tons) and coal purchased (169 tons 4 cwt. 3 qr.).. .. 104,924- 4 3 108,481 15 1 31st March, 1944 — Less stock in bin and yard .. .. .. 68 6 3 Less stock on wharf .. .. .. 859 17 1 Less stock on dump .. .. .. 2,011 19 0 2,940 3 0 Total disposed of .. .. .. .. 105,541 12 1 Disposals Shipped 70,741 3 2 Railed to Canterbury, Otago, &c. .. .. 19,149 15 1 Railway sales .. .. •• ■■ 4,343 14 2 Local and mine sales .. .. •• •• 8,292 10 2 Sales to workmen and free issues.. .. 2,529 8 2 Used on works .. •. • • • • 485 0 0 105,541 12 1 The gross output from the colliery since its inception totals 410,469 tons 16 cwt. Days Worked. —During the year the colliery worked on 256 days, an increase of 4 hours when compared with the previous year. The possible working-days, including 16 back Saturdays, were 278. The difference between the days worked and the possible working-days is accounted for as follows : 1 day, Good Friday; 1 day, Easter Monday; 2 days, re wages ; 1 day, dispute re shotfirer; 1 day, bathhouse cold ; 1 day, dispute re truckers; 1 day, dispute re miners ; 1 day, dispute re stoppage of lamps ; 1 day, funeral of employee ; 4 days, dispute re recalling to camp of furlough men from mines ; 8 days, Christmas holidays. Employees. —In connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 219 men and 10 boys, made up as follows—Underground : Coal-hewers, 62 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 110. Surface : 47 men and 10 boys. Expenditure.--The total expenditure in connection with coal-wiiming for wages, stores, mine timber, and compensation, together with subsidies on bus fares and cost of fuel used on works, amounted to £112,600, as compared with £103,185 for the previous year. Capital expenditure was' £4,695, as compared with £14,583 for the previous year. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.—The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £2 6s. Bd. per day, and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £2 2s. 2d., a decrease of 2s. sd. per day when compared with the previous year. Daily Output.—'The average daily output was 412 tons 18 cwt. and the coal-hewers' average daily output was 6 tons 14 cwt., as compared with 368 tons 11 cwt. and 7 tons 10 cwt. respectively for the previous year. Deficiencies — The total amount paid under the minimum-wage clause was £37 9s. Accidents.— No serious accidents were reported at the Strongman Colliery during the year. Stone-dusting.- Work under this heading was continued during the year. The total number of samples taken from the Strongroom Colliery and analysed was 291.

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