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addition to this the widow of any pensioner under the Act who dies from that disease is entitled to a pension of 12s. 6d. per week during widowhood. The aggregate receipts by a widow and her children from all sources (including any other pension or allowance) shall not, however, exceed £l ss. a week, together with 10s. a week in respect of any child. The following is a statement by the Commissioner of Pensions showing the amount of pensions payable, in force, and granted to the 31st March, 1921 : — Amount of Pensions Payable. £ s . d. Six months from Ist October, 1918, to 31st March, 1919 . . 6,340 19 2 Year ended 31st March, 1920 .. .. .. .. .. 16,652 1 2 Year ended 31st March, 1921 .. .. .. .. .. 26,971 18 6 £49,964 18 10 Pensions in Force and Granted. £ s. d. Annual value of pensions in force .. .. .. .. 29,685 10 0 Average pension payable per annum . . . . . . .. 62 12 7 Number of pensions in force .. .. .. .. .. .. 474 Number of pensions granted to unmarried miners . . .. .. 133 Number of pensions granted to married miners . . . . .. .. 266 Number of pensions granted to widows of miners .. .. .. 391 As an additional precaution against miner's phthisis, provision was made in the Mining Amendment Acts of 1919 and 1920 that no rock-drills, other than those having an axial water-feed, shall be used in any metalliferous mine after the 31st December, 1920. DEPARTMENTAL. i The duties of Inspecting Engineer of Mines appertaining to metalliferous mines and quarries were again taken over by Mr. Frank Reed in April, 1921. These duties have since that time been carried out by that officer in conjunction with his duties as Chief Inspector of Coal-mines. STATE COLLIERIES. The operations of the State coal-mines and State coal-depots for the year ended 31st March, 1921, are briefly reviewed hereunder. Output and Sales. The gross output of the mines for the year was 153,722 tons, as compared with 156,228 for last year, a decrease of 2,506 tons. A comparative statement for the two years is shown below : —

Notes. —(a.) The difference between the gross and net output is the allowance made for mine consumption and waste, (b.) The Point Elizabeth Colliery was finally closed on the 20th March, 1920. The Liverpool Colliery produced 149,054 tons of marketable coal, an increase of 33,404 tons on the previous year's production. The output from this colliery constituted a record, being 20,710 tons in excess of the output for the year ended

Output in Tons, 1920-21. Output in Toi is, 1919-20. Mino. Gross. Net. Gross. Net. Point Elizabeth Liverpool 153,722 149,054 35,816 120,412 33,553 115,650 Totals 153,722 149,054 156,228 149,203