H.—44a

28

with the results obtained by other methods, as, for example, by a comparison of the total yearly wages bill at each mine over the period with the output of the mine. The increase in labour-cost of the mines giving data over the whole period, both in absolute amount and in percentage rate, has been greatest in the case of brown coal, and lowest in respect of semi-bituminous coal. The increase in semi-bituminous is about Is. a ton, or under 20 per cent. ; in bituminous about Is. 9d., or about 30 per cent. ; and in brown coal over 35., or nearly 50 per cent. In 1913 bituminous coal was subject to lower labour-cost per ton than semi-bituminous by a few pence, both averaging between ss. 6d. and 6s. ; in 1918 labour on bituminous was dearer by a few pence than tbiit on semibituminous, each having increased to about 7s. sd. and 7s. respectively. The difference in the labour-cost of bituminous and brown coals is now more than double what it was in 1913. It would appear that of the average increase in the total mining-cost of all the mines giving data, from and including 1913 to September, 1918, that nearly 39 per cent, is due to increased direct labourcost and a little more than 60 per cent, to increases in other costs than that of wage-labour employed at the mines. When we take account of all coal concerning which we were able to obtain exact particulars of mining - cost, both from mines giving returns or operating over the whole period and from those which could provide such data only for part of the period, we find that the labour-cost in 1918 compared with that in 1913 shows an increase of about 20 per cent. The average labour-cost for 1914 was 4 per cent, less than for 1913 ; for 1916, about 4 per cent, more ; for 1917, 14 per cent. ; and for 1918, about 20 per cent. The labour-cost of bituminous coals from these mines increased on the average by about 28 per cent., or Is. 7d. a ton. It was lower in 1914 than in 1913; i<l 1916 it was 8 per cent, higher than in 1913 ; in 1917, 16 per cent.; and in 1918 (to September), 28 per cent. Semi-bituminous coal increased in labour-cost from about 6s. to Bs. 2d., or 36 per cent., and brown coals about 13 per cent. The labour-cost of brown coal in 1918 was nearly 30 per cent, higher than the recorded 1914 cost. The comparatively low increase in brown coals between 1913 and 1918 is due to the fact that in 1913 no account was taken of those mines which were in an abnormal condition, and that in the subsequent years collieries have been opened up which contribute a fair proportion of the supply at a comparatively low cost. On the average the increase in the labour-cost of all coals forming the subject of inquiry in any year, whether from mines operating throughout the period or not, is about Is. 2d., or almost one-third, of the increase in the total mining-costs. In all these cases the averages are true averages obtained with dvie regard to the relative outputs of the respective collieries. 4. OTHER COSTS, (i.) Stores and Materials. The other elements in cost besides the direct payments to labour have also shown rises over the period. The facts in regard to the more important of them are summarized in the following tables and notes. Table 19 shows the cost, per ton of coal mined, for stores and materials at each of several principal collieries averaged over each year of the period under review, with the amount of increase or decrease, comparing the first and last years of the period for which returns were available in the case of each company. The highest and lowest cost for each year is stated at the foot of the table so as to give a clear idea of the range within which these costs vary from mine to mine. As in all other costs, such variation is caused mainly by differences, first in the natural conditions of the mines, including the nature of the coal itself, and, secondly, in the stage reached in the life of the mines, a new mine, for example, requiring to spend a much smaller (or a much larger) proportion of its total cost on certain given factors or work than an older mine.

Table 19 .—Increases in Cost, calculated per Ton of Output, of Stores and Materials (including Timber), 1913-18.

Mine. 1913. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. I 19J8. Increase or Decrease. A s. d. 0 11-75 0 6-88 s. d. 0 10-96 0 7-97 s. d. 0 10-96 0 7-97 0 10-87 0 5-2 s. d. 0 10-88 0 6-75 s. d. 0 10-88 0 6-75 1 0-73 0 5-5 s. d. 0 11-02 0 8-11 1 0-48 0 7-11 0 8-6 0 7-57 0 9-45 1 0-82 0 9-01 1 3-05 s. d. 1 0-19 0 9'02 2 0-13 0 9-22 1 2-4 0 8-57 0 9'08 1 5-02 0 6-11 s. d. 1 2-26 0 9-75 2 4-08 0 9-75 1 3-3 0 11-02 0 9-84 1 7-37 0 9-24 s. d. 0 2-51 0 2-87 1 5-21 0 219 0 6-7 0 4-06 0 1-99* 0 11-1 0 2-52f B n 0 7-56 0 10-87 0 5-2 1 0-73 0 5-5 c D E 0 6-96 0 11-44 0 9'58 1 063 1 0-675 0 7-68 0 10-28 0 10-32 0 11-36 1 5-19 F G H (including renewals) .. I J K L (and repairs) M N 0 11-83 0 8-27 0 6-72 1 3-05 0 6-96 0 11-44 0 9-58 1 0-63 1 0-675 0 7-68 0 10-28 0 10-32 0 11-36 i 1 5-19 1 5-55 0 11-4 1 8-65 2 11-95 I 3-96 0 10 0 9-75 1 1-21 0 10 0 9-75 1 1-21 0 6-7 0 9-64 1 1-61 0 6-7 0 9-64 1 1-61 0 6-9 0 6-32 2 2-9 0 8-9 1 0-99 2 10-57 0 1-4 0 10-9 1 7-99 Highest Lowest 1 3-96 0 6-72 1 1-21 0 5-2 1 1-21 0 5'2 1 5-19 0 5-5 1 5-19 0 5-5 2 2-9 0 6-32 2 10-57 0 6-11 2 11-95 0 9-75 1 7-99 0 1-99* * Decrease. t increase.