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 .. .. 1,769 7 2 Stock on wharf .. 1,769 7 2 Add net output for year .. .. 61,778 5 3 63,547 13 1 31st March, 1948 Less stock in bin and yard .. 1,286 9 0 Less stock on wharf .. .. 45 2 0 1,331 11 0 Total disposed of .. .. .. 62,216 2 1 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Shipped .. 35,441 7 2 Railed to Canterbury, &c. .. .. 19,409 12 0 Railway sales .. .. .. 4,115 19 3 Local and mine sales .. .. 1,254 7 0 Sales to workmen and free issues .. 1,994 16 0 62,216 2 1 The gross output from the colliery since it was taken over by State Coal-mines on 22nd February, 1943, totals 308,149 tons 13 cwt. Days Worked. —The colliery worked 229f days out of a possible 241 ordinary working-days. In addition, the colliery worked 2f substituted statutory holidays, making the total days worked 231f. The difference between the ordinary days worked, 229§, and the possible number of working-days is accounted for as follows : 4f days,, union meetings ; 2J days, power failures ; 1 day, dispute re loss of air drill; 1 day, funeral of late Hon. J. O'Brien ; 1 day, dispute re beer boycott; 1 day, replacing of fan motor and belt; £ day, Westland parliamentary by-election ; \ day, Brunner Centenary Celebrations ; day, local-body-election day; day, union decision to commence seven-hour shifts. Employees.—ln connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 201 men and 6 boys, made up as follows—Underground : Coal-hewers, 53; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 114. Surface: 34 men and 6 boys. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings.—The coal-hewers' average daily earnings (gross) were £3 4s. 5d., and after deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £3 Is. 5d., an increase of 4s. lid. per day when compared with the previous period. Daily Output.—The average daily output was 276 tons 14 cwt. and the coal-hewers' average daily output was 6 tons 1 cwt., as compared with 246 tons 12 cwt. 3 qr. and 6 tons 4 cwt. 2 qr. respectively for the previous year. The total number of hewer shifts for the year was 10,606f. Deficiencies. —The total amount paid under the minimum-wage clause was £4l 19s. Bd. Accidents. —In addition to numerous accidents of a minor nature, three serious accidents occurred at the Dobson Colliery. On Ist August, 1947, a shiftman was struck by a pipe-line which was forced apart at the joint by a fall of stone, and suffered a fracture of the skull. On 27th August, 1947, a pair of miners were struck by a fall of stone; one suffered a fracture of the right leg and the other a fracture of the right clavicle. On 11th February, 1948, a trucker was caught between a moving box and a prop and suffered a fracture of-the Tl2 vertebrae.

21