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The District Manager, State Coal-mines, Kamo, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— 21st April, 1949. I have the honour to submit my report on the workings of the Kamo State Mine for the year ended 31st March, 1949. Coal-winning.—The gross output for the year was 50,095 tons 16 cwt. 1 qr. After allowing for the quantity used on works (24 tons 0 cwt. 3 qr.), there remained for disposal a net output of 50,071 tons 15 cwt. 2 qr. 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, 1948 — Tons cwt. qr. Tons cwt. qr. Stock on hand .. .. .. 19 10 2 Add net output for the period .. 50,071 15 2 50,091 6 0 31st March, 1949 — Less stock on hand Total disposed of .. .. .. 50,091 6 0 Disposals Tons cwt. qr. Railed to Auckland Depot .. 43,641 10 2 Local sales .. .. .. 5,335 4 3 Sales to workmen and free issues .. 1,114 10 3 : 50,091 6 0 The gross output of the mine since its acquisition by the State on sth January, 1948, totals 59,879 tons 1 cwt. 1 qr. Days Worked. —The colliery worked 241 days out of a possible 242 ordinary working-days. The difference between the ordinary days worked and the possible number of working-days is accounted for by the anniversary day of the province being an idle day. Employees—ln connection with coal-winning, the average number of persons employed in and about the mine was 154 men, made up as follows—Underground : Coal-hewers, 35 ; deputies, shiftmen, and truckers, 93. Surface : 26 men. Coal-hewers' Average Daily Earnings. —The coal-hewers' average daily earnings {gross) were £3 Bs. 3d., and after, deducting stores (explosives) their net return was £3 os. Bd., an increase of lis. 6d. per day when compared with the previous period. Daily Output.—The average daily output was 207 tons 17 cwt. 1 qr. and the coalhewers' average daily output was 6 tons 9 cwt. 1 qr., as compared with 163 tons 1 cwt. and 5 tons 6 cwt. respectively for the previous period. The total number of hewers' shifts for the year was 7,755. Deficiencies. —The sum of £8 was paid under the minimum-wage clause during the year. Accidents. —There were numerous accidents of a minor nature during the year, but no accident of a serious or fatal nature. Underground Workings.—The greater portion of the output has been won from development work in the Slant Dip section, the remainder being won from the completion of the East Dip workings and a little pillar-splitting in this section.

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