C—2a

Taking into account the stocks at the beginning and end of the year, the following statement shows details of the coal disposed of during the year : Ist April, 1947 — Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Stock in bin and yard .. .. 1,194 18 0 Stock on wharf .. .. .. 7 10 1,201 19 0 Add net output for year .. .. 55,585 5 0 56,787 4 0 31st March, 1948 — Less stock in bin and yard .. 1,432 17 0 Less stock on wharf 1,432 17 0 Total disposed of .. .. .. 55.354 7 0 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Shipped ... .. .. .. 20,675 0 0 Railed to Canterbury, &c. .. .. 19,254 7 0 Railway sales .. .. .. 10,268 13 0 Local and mine sales .. .. 3,918 17 0 Sales to workmen and free issues .. 1,237 10 0 55,354 7 0 The gross output from the colliery since it was taken over by State Coal-mines on sth July, 1941, totals 342,343 tons 17 cwt. Days worked. —The colliery worked days out of a possible 241 ordinary working-days. In addition, the colliery worked 3 substituted statutory holidays, making the total number of days worked The difference between the ordinary days worked, and the possible number of working-days is accounted for as follows: 2 days, union meeting; 7\ days, dispute re dip yardage ; 1 day, funeral of late Hon. J. O'Brien; 2 days, death and funeral of workman ; day, parliamentary by-election ; day, local-body election. Employees.—-In connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 170 men and 3 boys, made up as follows —Underground : coal-hewers, 51 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers 91. Surface: 28 men and 3 boys. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.—The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £3 per day, and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £2 16s. 2d., an increase of Bs. Bd. per day when compared with the previous period. Daily Output.—The average daily output was 248 tons 15 cwt. and the coal-hewers' average daily output was 5 tons 18 cwt. 3 qr., as compared with 232 tons 14 cwt. and 5 tons 14 cwt. 1 qr. respectively for the previous year. The total number of hewer shifts for the year was 9,691. Deficiencies. —The total amount paid under the minimum-wage clause was £152 3d. 4d. Accidents. —In addition to numerous accidents of a minor nature, 3 serious accidents, 1 of which proved fatal, occurred at the Blackball colliery. On 10th January, 1948, an apprentice electrician was fatally electrocuted whilst engaged in effecting repairs to a winch. On 12th September, 1947, an electrician suffered a sudden spontaneous pneumothorax whilst working over heated bitumen. On sth November, 1947, a miner was struck by a fall of coal and suffered a fracture of the left leg.

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