0.—2.

26

APPENDIX B. REPOKTS RELATING TO THE INSPECTION OF COAL-MINES. The Inspecting Engineer and Chief Inspector of Coal-mines to the Under-Secretary of Mines. Sir — Wellington, 23rd July, 1923. I have the honour to present my annual report, together with statistical information, in regard to coal-mines of the Dominion for the year ended 31st December, 1922, in accordance with section 78 of the Coal-mines Act, 1908. The report is divided into the following sections : — I. Output. 11. Persons employed. 111. Accidents. IV. Working of the Coal-mines Act — (a) Permitted Explosives. (b) Dangerous Occurrences. (c) Electricity at Collieries. (d) Prosecutions. V. Legislation affecting Coal-mining. Annexures— A. Summary of Annual Reports by Inspectors of Mines. B. Colliery Statistics. SECTION I.—OUTPUT. The output of the several classes of coal mined in each inspection district is summarized as follows:—

The following is a table showing the annual production of coal and the quantity of coal imported since 1911 : —

During 1922 the production of bituminous coal increased by 74,593 tons, that of brown coal by 10,213 tons, while the output of lignite was reduced by 36,082 tons, making the total increase for the year 48,724 tons. Throughout the year ample supplies of coal were available for all purposes, and at many of the mines difficulty was experienced in disposing of the output even at considerably reduced prices. This caused a slump in the collieries mining the lower grades of coal, and at the end of the year many of these collieries were working short time. The year was marked by a comparative freedom from industrial strife at the mines. One other feature that deserves mention is the striking increase in the number of small mines being worked by co-operative parties, most of whom did well during the year.

Output of Coal during 1922. Class of Coal. Northern District West Coast District (North Island). (South Island). Southern District (South Island). Totals. Total Output to the End of 1922. lituminous and semi-bituminous (rown lignite Tons. Tons. 89,575 878,863 430,578 480 640 Tons. 89,575 430,578 Tons. 279,275 178,408 Tons. 968,438 710,333 179,048 Tons. 34,917,970 17,290,650 3,342,687 Totals for 1922 520,153 879,983 457,683 1,857,819 55,551,307 Totals for 1921 514,607 483,613 1,809,095 53,693,488 810,875

Year. Coal produced. Coal imported. Total Quantity of Coal produced and imported. Year. Coal produced. Coal imported. Total Quantity of Coal produced and imported. 911 .912 913 .914 .915 .916 Tons. 2,066,073 2,177,615 1,888,005 2,275,593 2,208,624 2,257,135 Tons. 188,068 364,359 408,940 518,070 353,471 293,956 Tons. 2,254,141 2,541,974 2,350,945 2,793,063 2,562,095 2,551,091 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 Tons. 2,008,419 2,034,250 1,847,848 1,843,705 1,809,095 1,857,819 Tons. 291,597 255,332 391,434 476,343 822,459 501,478 Tons. 2,360,010 2,289,582 2,239,282 2,320,048 2,631,554 2,359,297