C—2

RESCUE STATIONS The new station at Granity came into use on 30th September, and the stations at Dobson, Ohai, and Rotowaro were in full operation throughout the year. The numbers of trained men on the station registers are :

The services of trained teams were frequently asked for by mine-managers to deal with heatings and fires and to carry out examinations when sealed-off areas were broken open. During the year emergency calls dealt with were : Dobson, 5 ; Ohai, 7 ; Rotowaro, 15 ; Granity, nil. Although conditions were often potentially dangerous, the trained teams equipped with the rescue apparatus were able to deal with all these emergencies without mishap. On several occasions the work resulted in a saving of both coal and mining plant. In addition to training new personnel, refresher courses were conducted for trained men at all stations excepting Granity. The organization was extended by the establishment of a subsidiary station at Benneydale, where five sets of Proto apparatus are now held to facilitate training of teams and also to ensure that immediate attention is given to the heatings which are experienced at the Mangapehi Mine. It is intended to establish a similar subsidiary station at Reefton. HOUSING During the financial year 1947-48, housing loans were granted to twenty-two employees to a total amount of £15,735. Eleven loans were for the construction of new houses and eleven for the purchase of existing houses. The locations of the houses are : Runanga, 3 ; Dunollie, 2 ; Rapahoe, 1 ; Blackball, 1 ; Hector, 3 ; Ngakawau, 1 ; Stockton, 3 ; Granity, 1 ; Ohura, 1 ; Ngaruawahia, 6.

The following table gives details of loans granted for the last ten years :

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1 Previously Trained IVi+nla trained. 1 during 1947. 1 JLUUrtlS. Dobson .. .. 71 17 88 Granity 14 14 Ohai io 11 30 Rotowaro 74 12 86 Totals 164 54 218

Erection of Purchase of Repairs and Total. Sew Houses. Existing Houses. Renovations. Year ended. Number. Amount. Number. Amount. Number. Amount. Number. Amount. £ £ £ £ 31/3/39 8 3,830 1 250 3 788 12 4,868 31/3/40 9 5,225 1 250 10 5,475 31/3/41 16 10,221 3 909 19 11,130 31/3/42 14 9,088 1 120 15 9,208 31/3/43 6 5,500 ii 6 j 230 1 495 18 12,225 31/3/44 10 10,335 15 6,788 3 1,025 28 18,148 31/3/45 4 4,549 7 3,925 1 395 12 8,869 31/3/46 2 2,000 7 2,748 2 560 11 5,308 31/3/47 3 4,160 14 7,195 6 1,062 23 12,417 31/3/48 11 11,380 11 4,355 22 15,735