C.—2a

1920. NE W ZEAL A N D.

STATE COAL-MINES (REPORTS ON WORKING OF) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1920.

Prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 118 of the. Coal-mines Act, 1008.

MTNK MANAGER'S REPORT.

The (tEnkhaj, Manager, State Coal-mines, Wellington, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— 17th May, 1920. I have the honour to submit my annual report on the working of the State coal-mines for the year ended 31st March, 1920. Point Elizabeth Colliery. Goal-winning. The gross total output for the year was 35,816 tons 14 cwt., a decrease of 50,718 tons 1.5 cwt. when compared witli the output of last year. After deducting mine consumption and waste, and allowing for the stock in hand at the beginning of the year (1,169 tons), there remained 34,721 tons 15 cwt., which was disposed of as follows : — Export— Tons cwt. Screened coal ... . ... ... ... ... 3,668 5 Unscreened coal ... ... ... ... 22,429 9 Small coal ... ... ... ... 7311 Total ... ... ... ... ... 26,171 5 Local sales — Screened coal ... ... ... ... ... ... 4,256 6 Unscreened coal . . ... ... ... ... 715 1 Small coal ... ... ... ... 928 2 Total 5,899 9 Mine salesUnscreened coal ... ... ... 139 14 Unscreened coal sold to employees... ... ... 2,419 19 Used on works (small coal) ... ... ... ... 1,530 5 Waste ... ... ... ... .. ... ... 733 14 Stock on wharf (small coal) ... .. ... ... ... 91 8 Total ... ... .. ... 4,915 0 The gross total output won from this colliery since its inception amounts to 2,453,884 tons 3 cwt. The mine worked on 246J days out of a possible 305. The difference between the time worked and the possible working-time is accounted for as follows: (a) Pay Saturdays, 25 days; (b) union holidays, .17 days; (c) influenza epidemic, 10 days; (d) stop-work meetings, 3 days; (e) Peace celebrations, 1 day; (/) funeral late W. Muncaster, jun., 1 day; (g) breakdown venti-lating-fan, 1 day; (A) cavil, day: total time lost, days.

I—C. 2A.